Aleutian Skate

This large, rhomboidal skates (1,540 mm TL) have long head length 16.7-24.3% TL) and rounded pectoral apices; interdorsal space is large (1.3-3.1% TL); claspers short and stubby, with tip rounded and not bulbous, with weakly defined pseudosiphon, the dorsal lobe has a short pseudorhipidion, U-shaped cleft, while ventral lobe with a rounded projection; teeth in 34-42 rows on upper jaw, and 32-38 rows on lower jaw; pectoral radials 90; pelvic fins 22; total vertebrae 152; dorsal surface of body with fine prickles, becoming larger on the tail, also with thorns, with males having alar thorns, no malar thorns, middorsal thorns developed and high in number (4-11), nuchal thorns strong (3-5), scapular and tail thorns present, interdorsal thorns weak (1-2). Colouration: dorsal dark brown to grey, dark spots on pectorals, often with ocellus on either pectoral fin, while ventral white, with darker coloration on the snout, gills, disc margins, pelvics, and underside of the tail (Ref. 126515).

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205).

Feeds on fish, benthic invertebrates and detritus (Ref. 27640).

Found in deep waters, on outer continental shelf and upper slope, often over muddy sediments. Reported to feed mainly on benthic crustaceans, including shrimps and crabs, and secondarily on bony fishes (Ref. 126515). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Size at maturity for males 113 cm TL and 125 cm TL for females with males growing to at least 150 cm TL and females grow to about 154 cm TL; reported size at birth is 12-15 cm TL (Ref. 126515). Eggs are deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsule measures 120-136 mm long and 73-90 mm wide (Ref. 41249, 41253); golden brown in color, and covered with coarse, striated, and anteriorly-directed prickles, giving it a velvety texture; the cases are with long, curved horns at each corner, with the anterior horns being short and these horns taper and become thin and filamentous at their ends (Ref. 126515).

The Aleutian skate (Bathyraja aleutica) is a species of skate in the family Arhynchobatidae. It lives in depths ranging from 15 to 1602 meters in North Pacific Ocean from northern parts of Japan to the Aleutian Islands and southeastern Alaska. It has maximum total length of 161 centimeters. It is the most abundant species of the Bathyraja genus in the eastern Bering Sea slope and throughout the Gulf of Alaska. It is oviparous and produces oblong egg capsules with stiff horn in each corner. The embryo gets its nutrients from the yolk which is at first utilized for growth at a relatively constant rate but later in the development the yolk is absorbed rapidly.