Pale skate

Source: CSIRO National Fish Collection.

The pale skate (Notoraja ochroderma) is… well, pale in colour. Surprise!

They are rather small (reaching at least 37 cm in length), and have a granular dorsal side with alar thorns seen only on males. They have a dark band on their tail that also have thorns covering it, but otherwise that’s the only distinguishing feature about this pale skate (haha, puns). Beneath, they are a white colour or can be translucent underneath.

A few specimens have been taken from continental slope off Cairns (Queensland, Australia) but not much else is known about these animals. The IUCN has currently assessed them as Data Deficient (DD).

want to see these skates? so do we!

glossary

• Alar thorns: Paired patches of thorns on the outer disc of most mature male skates.
• Dorsal side: The top of an animal.
• Granular: Resembling small grains.
  
• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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