Not just Shark
Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and
chimaera's from around the world. It began as a simple web based
field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter
different species of sharks and rays but it has slowly evolved into
a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark
diving and photography. There are now more than a thousand shark
pictures and sections on shark evolution, biology, and
conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a
constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark
links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and
stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to
check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on
an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:
If you're looking
for a broader range of marine life pictures the following links
represent a new area of elasmodiver.com that contains pictures of
other marine organisms and of marine habitats. This expansion of
Elasmodiver is in its first stages but will eventually include pages
on all types of marine mammals, bony fishes and marine invertebrates
as well as coastal habitats, reefscapes and other imagess relating
to the ocean. Please return regularly to enjoy the progress.
starry skate, prickly skate, rock
skate, Pacific starry skate.
Latin Name:
Raja stellulata Pseudonym:Raja montereyensis
Family: Rajidae
Other Names:
小星鰩China MainMandarin Chinese,
小星鳐China MainMandarin Chinese,
K'ak'ew'Can Br ColumSalish,
Pacifische sterrogNetherlandsDutch,
Prickly starry skateUKEnglish,Raia-do-PacíficoPortugalPortuguese,Raie du PacifiqueFranceFrench, Raya estrelladaMexicoSpanish,StillahavsrockaSwedenSwedish,StillehavsrokkeDenmarkDanish
Identification:
Rhomboid disc. Anterior margin of disc (from snout
to free tip) weakly convex then concave. Posterior disc margin convex. Disc width
and length roughly equal. snout weakly pointed. Tail less than
half total length. Pelvic fins trail distinctly behind disc.
Dorsum thorny. A single distinct row of thorns
extends along centre line of back from behind the eyes to base of first dorsal
fin and beyond first dorsal to second dorsal. Large spines visible on
shoulder girdle and on edge of disc behind snout.
Dorsum has extensive patterning. Dorsum mostly light brown with
irregular scattered light and dark spots and blotches. Prominent ocelli
with dark centre within a dark outer ring. Distinct white blotch behind ocelli
may be present. A black bar sometimes present across the eyes. Dark shading may
form a subtle shadowy ring around eyes and another around on lower back from
level with ocelli to pelvic fins.
Tail with 5 or
more light rings interspersed with light brown patches (or saddles) with black
centres.
Size: Maximum
length 76cm. Size at birth 12-16cm
Habitat:
The starry skate can be found on rocky substrates and sandy or muddly bottoms. From
18 to 732 meters. More commonly shallower than 100 meters.
Abundance and distribution:
North Eastern Pacific Ocean. Starry
skates can be found from the Bering Sea to northern Baja California. They are
more common in California but in the last few years they have started to show up
more regularly in commercial fishing operations in British Columbia.
Diet:
The starry skate's diet consists mostly of small crustaceans
(shrimp), cephalopods, and bony fishes.
Reproduction:
Oviparous.
Vulnerability:
The starry
skate is assessed as 'least concern' in California by the IUCN.
IUCN Quote:
Total annual commercial landings data for grouped catch of ‘Skate, unspecified’
for California show that landings declined from 2000–2005. However, this catch
primarily originates from trawl fisheries, of which this species is an
insignificant component. Scientific survey samples have confirmed that the
species is only occasionally captured by trawls, but it is one of the most
common species caught in longline surveys on rocky, un-trawlable reefs. The
species may be an occasional bycatch in recreational fisheries, but fishing
pressure is not considered a significant threat to it at present. There are no
data to suggest that the species’ population has declined and it is assessed as
Least Concern, given that its habitat offers it protection from fisheries.
Photographs:
Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, Canada.
Similar species:
There are a number of other skates inhabiting this region. The
longnose skate
has a vaguely similar shape but a much more acutely pointed snout and plainer
markings with smaller central ocelli. The big skate
has a straighter anterior disc margin and less protruding pelvic fins.
Reaction to divers:
Remains motionless (relying on camouflage) even when gently touched. May
eventually bolt but it is more likely to slowly swim away and resettle.
Diving logistics:
The starry skate is probably encountered by
divers on deeper rocky reefs in California. The specimen in these images was
found in BC but no other reports of starry skate sightings exist for this
region. Please contact elasmodiver if you encounter one on a dive.
