Queensland deepwater skate

We're going to say it straight out of the gate: ​The Queensland deepwater skate (Dipturus queenslandicus) is a problematic skate possibly involving two similar species. Like many deep water skates, essentially nothing is known of its ecology or life history. TFUI could not obtain a photo of this animal.

Known only from the Saumarez Plateau off Queensland, Australia, they are thought to inhabit the continental slope in this area at depths of 399–606 metres. We know little about what it eats or what habitat you can find it in, but it could be similar to other skates (i.e. they like soft substrates and enjoy small fish, crustaceans, etc.). The Queensland deepwater skate attains at least 76 cm total length (TL) and males mature by 63 cm TL. The IUCN has assessed these animals as Data Deficient (DD).

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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
• Crustaceans: Group of animals with a hard exoskeleton, jointed legs and segmented body.
• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​

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