Prickly deep-sea skate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prickly deep-sea skate |
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| Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling | |
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The prickly deep-sea skate (scientific name: Brochiraja spinifera), also known as the spiny deep-sea skate, is a fascinating type of skate. Skates are flat, cartilaginous fish that are related to sharks. This particular skate belongs to the Arhynchobatidae family.
You can find the prickly deep-sea skate living off the coast of New Zealand. It prefers to live in the deep ocean, at depths ranging from about 170 to 1,400 meters (which is about 550 to 4,600 feet) on the continental shelf. These skates usually grow to be about 60 to 80 centimeters (around 24 to 31 inches) long. They get their name "prickly" or "spiny" because they have small, sharp spines on their bodies.
Protecting the Prickly Deep-Sea Skate
The New Zealand Department of Conservation keeps an eye on many animal species to make sure they are safe. They have listed the prickly deep-sea skate as "Data deficient" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
What "Data Deficient" Means
When a species is called "Data deficient," it means that scientists don't have enough information about it. They don't know if its population is growing, shrinking, or staying the same. This makes it hard to tell if the species is in danger or if it needs special protection. More research is needed to understand the prickly deep-sea skate better and help protect its future.
