Biscuit Skate

This skate has a blunt, angular snout, a long, thick tail, and a broad flattened angular disc with wing-like pectoral fins. They reach a disc width of up to 68 cm (27 in) and are a light brown in colour with black spots, whorls and rosettes. The pectoral fins also have a dark brown eye spot near the base, although these are absent in juveniles. The upper side of the body is covered in many thornlike spines, with a row of strong thorns along the back and down the tail. Larger individuals may also have thorns on the white underside.

This species is found in the eastern Atlantic, from Rio de Oro in Western Sahara to South Africa. It is an oceanodromous marine demersal species. It is found from areas close inshore to a depth of 800 m (2,600 ft), although they are most common at depths of 100–300 m (330–980 ft). They prefer sandy areas and are found in shallow enclosed bays and on the continental slope.

This skate migrates towards the coastal shallows during the warm season and towards deep waters in winter. They spend most of their time lying flat on the sand, where they are well camouflaged.

Raja: Latin, raja, -ae = a sting ray; straeleni: Named after V. Van Straelen, director of IRSNB, Belgium.