The winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata) is a globally-endangered species of skate found in the surrounding waters of northeastern North America. They inhabit shallow shelf waters and are prone to bycatch during commercial fishing.[2]

Winter Skate
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1).[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Order:	Rajiformes
Family:	Rajidae
Genus:	Leucoraja
Species:	L. ocellata
Binomial name
Leucoraja ocellata Mitchill, 1815

Description

The winter skate can reach a maximum size of 109 cm. It reaches maturity around 12 years of age, depending on the sex and area.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This skate can be found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean,[3] ranging from North of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to South of Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] Winter skates prefer sand and gravel habitats.[3] They are primarily found in depths below 111 m and up to 371 m[2] and in temperatures ranging between -1.2 and -15 C.[3]

The local populations of the winter skate are not all evenly distributed. They are facing extirpation in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, for example,[4] resulting in a lot fewer egg cases found on local beaches. Their range has declined 99% from the 1980s to 2015 in that sector[5]

References

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[es] Leucoraja ocellata

[ru] Большой зимний скат