Mosaic skate

Source: CSIRO National Fish Collection.

​The mosaic skate (Pavoraja mosaica) is a skate found from the continental slope off Queensland, Australia at depths of up to 300-405 m. Reaching lengths of up to 28 cm, their diet and reproduction methods are unknown. 

​Their dorsal side is a pale colour with dark brown spots and reticulations, while their ventral surface is pale. The outer corners of their disc is a pale grey; speaking of discs, the disc is subcircular in females and in juveniles, they are heart-shaped in males. They are often caught as bycatch with the false peacock skate (Pavoraja pseudonitida) as trawl bycatch. They are listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

want to see these skates? so do we!

glossary

• Bycatch: The part of a fishery’s catch that is made up of non-target species.  
  
• Continental shelf: Extends from a continent underwater, resulting in a shallow-water area.
• Continental slope: The steep slope from a continental shelf to the ocean floor; usually around 20 km (12.4 miles) wide and made up of mud and silt substrate. It is an ideal area for deep sea fishing.
• Disc length (DL): A standard measurement of stingray; disc is slightly longer than it is wide.
• Dorsal side: The top of an animal.
• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• ​Trawl fisheries: Fisheries that pull a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats.

say hello!

you may also like:

FALSE PEACOCK SKATE

BLACKTIP REEF SHARK

SOUTHERN CHIMAERA