Species profile
Clearnose Skate
Rostroraja eglanteria
At a glance
Clearnose Skate (Rostroraja eglanteria) is an IUCN Least Concern shark or ray present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 1,617 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for the translucent patches flanking its pointed snout, visible when held to light.
- Disc width can reach about 33 inches (84 cm).
- Like all skates, it lays eggs in tough, rectangular cases called mermaid's purses.
- Common over shallow sandy and muddy bottoms along the U.S. Atlantic coast.
- Feeds on shrimp, crabs, worms, and small fish uncovered from the seafloor.
Where Clearnose Skate are seen
Background
The clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria) is species of cartilaginous fish in the family Rajidae. R. eglanteria is also known by other common names such as the brier skate and summer skate. Clearnose skates are easily identified by the translucent patches on either side of their snouts and their mottled dorsal surface. They are found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States in shallow…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Clearnose Skate article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sharks & rays on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.