Big skate
| Big skate | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Beringraja |
| Species: | B. binoculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Beringraja binoculata (Girard, 1855) | |
| Range of the big skate | |
| Synonyms | |
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The big skate (Beringraja binoculata) is the largest species of skate (family Rajidae) in the waters off North America, and the third largest skate overall (after the flapper skate, Dipturus intermedius and the blue skate, D. batis). They are found along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Baja California, typically from the intertidal zone to a depth of 120 m (390 ft), and feed on benthic invertebrates and small fishes. They are unusual among skates in that their egg cases may contain up to seven eggs each. This species is one of the most commercially important skates off California and is sold for food.