Skates, with their flattened bodies and wing-like fins, are a group of cartilaginous fish closely related to sharks and rays. These graceful creatures inhabit oceans and seas around the world, from the icy depths of the Arctic to the sun-drenched coral reefs of the tropics. But what is life really like for these gentle giants of the ocean floor?
Skates are well-adapted to life on the seabed, where they spend much of their time gliding effortlessly over sandy or muddy substrates in search of food. Their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins allow them to move with remarkable agility and grace, while their streamlined shapes reduce drag and make them efficient swimmers. Skates are primarily bottom-dwellers, using their keen senses of smell and electroreception to locate prey such as small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks hiding in the sediment.
One of the most fascinating aspects of skate biology is their reproductive strategy. Like their relatives the rays and sharks, skates are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs rather than giving birth to live young. Female skates typically deposit their eggs in tough, leathery capsules known as mermaid’s purses, which provide protection from predators and environmental hazards until the embryos are ready to hatch. Depending on the species, skate eggs may take several months to develop, with the female often returning to the same area year after year to lay her eggs.
