Rachel UR-- Skates vs Rays, The Identity Crisis of the Sea

           Hello fellow bloggers! In this weeks blog I bring to you one of the biggest mysteries of the sea, what's the difference between a skate and a ray? First, let's take a look at one of the most common ray seen off the coast of Florida, Dasyatis Sabrina, more commonly known as the Atlantic Stingray.

Dasyatis Sabrina, commonly known as the Atlantic Stingray

   The Atlantic Stingray is normally found in coastal waters including but not limited to estuaries, lagoons, and sometimes rivers. They feed off of benthic (occurring at the bottom of a body of water) organisms such as small crustaceans and shrimp. Occasionally they will feed on small fish that swim near the bottom. Rays generally are a non-aggressive, but they do have a barb near the base of the tall that they use for self-defense. Rays also give birth to live young. The Atlantic Stingray normally has about one to for pups per pregnancy. The Atlantic Stingray is shaped like a pancake. They have a slightly pointed nose with the fronts of the wings rounded, which can reach up to 2 feet in diameter.                                                                                                        

Raja Eglanteria, commonly known as the Clearnose Skate

   The Clearnose Skate on the other hand is shaped like a spade.  The front part of the wings come in at an angle and can reach a diameter of 2.5 feet. They are most commonly found in coastal waters but can live at depths of up to 1,000 feet. These skates also feed on benthic creatures including small squids and fishes. Clearnose skates do come into estuaries and bays to reproduce. Unlike the Atlantic Stingray, skates use small leathery like egg sacks to protect their young. These egg sacks can wash up on the beaches and are often called mermaid purses. These purses can reach lengths of 9 cm and widths of 5.7 cm. A single female clearnose skate can lay as many as 66 eggs sacks in a single reproductive season. They also lack the barb that stingrays have. In the barbs place is a row of spiny scales along the back of the ray.

Clearnose Skate egg case often called a mermaid purse

     My plan for my IRP is to find these eggs cases as they wash up on the beaches and take measurements from year to year. By doing this I can monitor the eggs for any changes or any egg cases that might indicate an invasive species.





Citations:
1)Skates: Clearnose Skate. (n.d) Retrieved February 20, 2016, from http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/sharks-rays/ray-species/clearnose-skate/

2) Stingrays: Atlantic Stingray. (n.d) Retrieved Febuary 19,2016, from http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/sharks-rays/ray-species/atlantic-stingray/

3) Raja Eglanteria (Clearnose Skate). (n.d.). Retrived February 23,2016, from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/161658/0