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Sharpspine skate (Okamejei acutispina) — Rajidae

Sharpspine skate

Okamejei acutispina
Family: Rajidae

The Sharpspine skate (Okamejei acutispina) is a saltwater fish of the family Rajidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
25.0–150.0 m
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Sharpspine skate is a skate (Rajidae) of coastal and deeper water of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a flattened, diamond-shaped, brown-grey body with a pointed snout and rows of thorns over the back and tail. Unlike stingrays it has no venomous spine. As a bottom-dweller it searches sand and mud bottoms for crustaceans, molluscs and small fish; it lays eggs in horny capsules. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sharpspine skate?

The Sharpspine skate has an irregular in shape body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Sharpspine skate live?

The Sharpspine skate lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Sharpspine skate get?

The Sharpspine skate grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Sharpspine skate dangerous to humans?

No, the Sharpspine skate is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Scherpdoorn-vleet sourced
English name
Sharpspine skate sourced
Scientific name
Okamejei acutispina
Family
Rajidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
25.0 verified
Max depth (m)
150.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Okamejei

More from the family Rajidae

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