Leopard skate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leopard skate |
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The leopard skate (its scientific name is Bathyraja panthera) is a type of fish with a skeleton made of cartilage, not bone. It belongs to the Arhynchobatidae family. Scientists first officially described it in 2011. They found it near the Aleutian Islands in the ocean, living at depths from about 50 to 258 meters (164 to 846 feet).
It is a medium-sized skate with a short nose and a wide mouth. Its back is light greenish-brown. It has small dots, round black spots, and yellow patches. This pattern looks a lot like a leopard's skin, which is why it's called panthera. The leopard skate lays eggs, which are protected inside tough cases that have horn-like points at each corner.
About the Leopard Skate
This medium-sized skate has a flat, rounded body, which is called a disc. This disc is wider than it is long. The total length of a leopard skate can be between 19.7 centimeters (7.8 inches) and 111 centimeters (43.7 inches). Its disc can be between 51.4 and 58.6 centimeters (20.2 and 23.1 inches) long. The disc's width can be from 64 to 74.3 centimeters (25.2 to 29.3 inches). Its tail can be between 44 and 54.1 centimeters (17.3 and 21.3 inches) long.
The leopard skate has a short snout, which is like its nose. Its mouth is wide, about 15.6% of its body width. It also has about 34 thorns along its back, from its neck to the tip of its tail.
Reproduction and Eggs
Leopard skates are oviparous, which means they lay eggs. Their egg capsules are quite large, measuring between 10.6 and 13.4 centimeters (4.2 and 5.3 inches). Each egg capsule has a horn-like point at each of its four corners. These tough cases protect the developing young inside.
Color and Appearance
The main color of the leopard skate's back is a light greenish-brown. It has wavy black lines, round black spots, and yellow patches. This unique pattern reminded scientists of a leopard's skin. This is why they named the species panthera, which is the scientific name for leopards.
Where They Live
The leopard skate is found in the western Aleutian Islands. This area is in the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. They are also found on Petrel Bank. All the leopard skates that scientists have studied were found at depths from 51 meters (167 feet) to 258 meters (846 feet) underwater.
