Sparky has jumped
times
since May 1, 1998.
Good job, Sparky!
FISH PICTURES
500+ Fish Species
From Mexico
MEXICO TRAVEL
FISHING LOCATIONS
MEXICO FISHING
Report Weekly Archives
FLORA & FAUNA
From Mexico
Coastal Areas
THE UNFORGETTABLE
SEA OF CORTEZ
Baja's Golden Age
Limited Edition
Second Printing
THE BAJA CATCH
Classic Baja Fishing
Guidebook, More Than
20 Years In Print!
Rasptail Skate, Witch Skate, Four-eyed Skate
Raya Chillona
(Raja velezi)
Rasptail Skate, Raja velezi: The Rasptail Skate has a grey-brown back and a white underside. The snout and spines are translucent.
The body of the Rasptail Skate consists of a large flattened rhomboidal disc with a pointed head and pointed “wings.” The discs are wide, the width being 70 percent to 80 percent of the total disc length. The front margin of the disc is concave.
A key to identification of the Rasptail Skate are two well-defined ocelli (eye-like spots) which are equally spaced in the center of each pectoral fin (as pictured below).
The Rasptail Skate has two small dorsal fins which are located at the rear of the tail and no caudal fin. The tail is approximately 80 percent of the length of the disc. The pelvic fins have two distinct lobes with the rear one being large. The disc is covered with small, thick, grooved, oval based spines that are larger on the snout, along the front of the disc, and above, before and behind the eyes.
It also has three rows of truly lethal thorns, one along the midline from a little behind the eyes to the first dorsal fin and two along the sides of the tail. Due to the unique ocelli spots the Rasptail Skate cannot be confused with any other species. It is found between 100 and 900 feet deep in the water column over sandy bottoms and reaches a maximum length of just under 3 feet.
Distribution in Mexico fishing areas
In Mexican fishing waters the Rasptail Skate has a limited distribution, being found throughout the Sea of Cortez except of the extreme northern and southern portions and along the coast of the Mexican mainland south to Guatemala It is absent from along the Pacific coast of Baja California and from around Mexico's oceanic islands. The Rasptail Skate is considered to be an excellent food fish and is sold commercially.
The Rasptail Skate is a member of the Rajidae Family which includes fanskates and skates, known in Mexico as rayas. There are 200 members of the family with 18 genera of which 32 species are of the Raja Genus with 5 species frequenting Mexican fishing areas. They all have a large flattened rhomboidal disc that consists of head, body, and pectoral fins. The eyes are on top of the head with spiracles immediately behind. The nostrils are a little in front of the mouth (found on the underside) and the lobes from the nostrils form a curtain between them and the mouth. They have slender tails, which are well demarcated from the body, that are less then twice as long was the length of the disc. They have two small dorsal fins near the rear of the tail with the caudal fin existing as a fold behind the second dorsal fin. The pelvic fins have two lobes that are separated by a notch. The upper surface of the body is covered with prickles and there are rows of thorns along the midline.
Rasptail Skate, Raja velezi: Photos courtesy of John Snow.
Rasptail Skate, Raja velezi: Donated to Mexfish.com during fishing by the commercial Mexican panguero fishermen of Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, June 2007. Size 30 inches. This collection documents a significant range extension for this species. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
Mexico Fishing Home Page < Fish Photo List < Rasptail Skate
Copyright ©