Image of Dipturus

Description:

Description: Recently the Common Skate (Dipturus batis) was recognised as being two distinct species - with the Flapper Skate D. cf. intermedia being the more northerly (and larger) of the two, and the more southerly species being the Blue Skate which is likely to retain the name D. batis (scientific names are still being decided). This individual looks like D. intermedia and that fits with the distribution and where it was sighted. The "common skate" is, in fact very rare. It is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN red list of threatened species http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T39397A10198950.en
Item Type: Image
Title: Common Skate
Copyright: SERPENT Project
Species: Dipturus sp.
Behaviour: A brief encounter with this skate. The skate was on the seabed near some survey equipment as the ROV approached to recovery the gear. It began to swim away as it was illuminated by the ROV lights.
Site: Atlantic -- North Sea -- West of Shetland -- Lancaster
North Sea -- West of Shetland -- Lancaster
Site Description: Seafloor
Depth (m): 147
Latitude: 60 deg 11' 13" N
Longitude: 3 deg 51' 18" W
Countries: UK -- West of Shetland
Habitat: benthic
Rig: Transocean Spitsbergen
Project Partners: Hurricane Energy, Transocean, Oceaneering
ROV: Magnum 139
Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates
Deposited On: 20 October 2016