flapper skate

Dipturus intermedius

A bottom hunter that eats other skates

Temperate
Northern Hemisphere
Regional distribution
Marine fish
Atlantic Ocean
Africa
Europe
Large
Temperate fish

The flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) is a species of cartilaginous fish, a ray, belonging to the family Rajidae, the skates. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the blue skate (D. batis), the combined taxon being known as the common skate. The flapper skate is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, although its range has contracted to a considerable extent due to overfishing, and it is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Critically Endangered.

Class: Sharks and Rays
Order: Skates
Family: Rajidae
Genus: Dipturus
Maximum length: 285 cm
Water: Marine
Distribution: Northeast Atlantic: Iceland to the British isles, it was formerly more widespread, including the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa, but its range is thought to be reduced due to fishing.
Conservation status: CRCritically Endangered

Report a correction