Prickly skate

We found this picture of the prickly skate (Brochiraja asperula) holotype (Garrick & Paul, 1974) from Te Papa.

The prickly skate, Brochiraja asperula, is an endemic skate to New Zealand waters found at depths of up to 200 to 1,300 m on the continental shelf and slope. 

A dark brown colour, their skin is smooth until it reaches their hind body where it becomes prickly. They reach anywhere from 30 to 50 cm in size, and have a snout shorter than most other skate species. Although their distribution and habitat is known, their diet isn’t. However scientists know they are oviparous, with the mother laying two egg cases. #Finfact: The young may even follow their mother for a while!

The IUCN has assessed these animals as Data Deficient (DD).

who wants to see these skates?

glossary

• ​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
• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Oviparous: The eggs hatch and the babies develop inside the female’s body, without a placenta to nourish the pups.
• Pups: Baby sharks.

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