Korean skate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Korean skate |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hongeo
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| Species: |
koreana
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| Synonyms | |
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The Korean skate (Hongeo koreana) is a special type of fish that belongs to the Rajidae family. It's the only member of its unique genus called Hongeo. This amazing fish was once thought to be part of the Raja group. However, scientists later discovered it was different enough to have its own genus! Sadly, the Korean skate is now considered Critically Endangered. This means it's in great danger of disappearing forever, mostly because too many are caught by fishing.
Contents
About the Korean Skate's Family Tree
How Scientists Study It
Scientists have studied the complete genetic map (called the mitochondrial genome) of the Korean skate. This map is like a detailed instruction book for the fish. It helps scientists understand how the Korean skate is related to other fish. They found that its genetic map is very similar to other skates in the Rajidae family.
What's in a Name?
- The name Hongeo comes from the Korean word for 'skate', which is hong-eo (홍어).
- The name koreana tells us where this fish lives. It was first found in the waters around Korea.
What Does the Korean Skate Look Like?
The Korean skate has a short, deep snout (its nose area) that is a bit rounded. Its mouth is large and slightly curved, with about 51 rows of teeth! It also has five pairs of gill slits, which it uses to breathe underwater.
For fins, the Korean skate has two dorsal fins (on its back) that are close together near the tip of its tail. It also has a small caudal fin (tail fin) close to the second dorsal fin. Its tail is shorter than its body. It has a groove along the bottom middle part and a clear fold on the side of the tail, all the way to the tip.
Colors and Special Features
Male and female Korean skates have slightly different colors. Males are generally darker than females. Females have a brown top surface with scattered dark brown spots. Their bottom surface is black or brown, with gray areas around their pores (like their nostrils and gill slits). The top of their tail is brown with three brown bands and dark spots, while the bottom of the tail is gray.
The Korean skate has some unique features. One is a special kind of cartilage that connects to its skull. Another cool feature is a clear row of thorns along the middle of its tail's top surface. Both male and female skates have these thorns, and most of them point towards the front of the fish.
Where Do Korean Skates Live?
The Korean skate is mostly found along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. This includes areas like the Jeju Strait, Heuksan Islands, and Cheongsando. Sometimes, they are also seen off the coast of Japan, near Tsushima Island and the Gotō Islands, but this is less common.
They usually live in waters between 30 to 110 meters (about 100 to 360 feet) deep off the Korean coast. When found near Japan, they can be in waters from 30 to 180 meters (about 100 to 590 feet) deep.
Life Cycle of the Korean Skate
The Korean skate is an egg-laying animal. This means the females lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. They lay their eggs on muddy or sandy parts of the ocean floor. Inside the egg, the baby skate feeds only on the yolk. The eggs themselves have cool horn-like parts on their shells!
Korean Skate as Food
The Hongeo koreana is a popular fish for fishing in southern Korea. A famous Korean dish is Hongeo-hoe (홍어회). This is a fermented skate dish. It's known for its very strong, sharp smell and a texture that can be a bit tricky to chew because of the fish's cartilage. The dish is usually prepared and eaten raw. While Hongeo koreana can be used, other types of skate can also be used to make Hongeo-hoe.
