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Freckled skate (Leucoraja garmani) — Rajidae

Freckled skate

Leucoraja garmani
Family: Rajidae
LC · Least Concern

The Freckled skate (Leucoraja garmani) is a saltwater fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 57 cm.

Length
57 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
33–530 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic; outer edge of the shelf and upper slope.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The rosette skate is a true skate (Rajidae) from the western Atlantic Ocean. The species has a flattened, diamond-shaped body with broad pectoral fins and a spotted upper side with rosette-like spot clusters, to which the name refers; rows of thorns run along the back and tail. Unlike stingrays it has no venomous tail spine. It lives mainly on the outer edge of the continental shelf and the upper slope. As a bottom predator it feeds on small crustaceans, worms and small fishes. It reproduces with egg capsules. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Freckled skate?

The Freckled skate has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Rosette-like groups of blotches and rows of thorns; oviparous bottom ray without a venomous tail spine.

Where does the Freckled skate live?

The Freckled skate lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Atlantic; outer edge of the shelf and upper slope.

How big does the Freckled skate get?

The Freckled skate grows to a maximum of about 57 cm.

Is the Freckled skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Freckled skate is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Freckled skate edible?

The Freckled skate is rarely eaten.

More photos

Freckled skate (Leucoraja garmani) — Rajidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC (Public domain)
Freckled skate (Leucoraja garmani) — Rajidae — 3
Gibbons, Ruth E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Freckled skate (Leucoraja garmani) — Rajidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. (Public domain)
Freckled skate (Leucoraja garmani) — Rajidae — 5
Gibbons, Ruth E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM

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All data

Identification

English name
Freckled skate verified
Scientific name
Leucoraja garmani
Family
Rajidae
Other names
Rosette skate; Rosetted skate; Maya skate; Virginia skate verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
57 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Spots
Tail shape
Straight
Mouth position
Inferior (downward)
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
33 verified
Max depth (m)
530 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic; outer edge of the shelf and upper slope.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, worms and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Rosette-like groups of blotches and rows of thorns; oviparous bottom ray without a venomous tail spine. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Leucoraja

More from the family Rajidae

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