Description: A very large skate that can reach up to 2.3 m in length. The snout is very distinctive, tapering to a sharp point and covered with thorns and gives this species one of its common names - the bottlenose skate. It has a flattened grey to brown body with a lighter underside, the front edges of the body are concave with a sinuous outline.

Habitat: Reported to prefer rockier habitats, found from 40 - 400 m. Occasionally deeper.

Distribution: Most records are from west coast of Ireland with a few scattered records elsewhere, some of which are washed up egg cases.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with other large skates (Dipturus spp.).

Key Identification Features:

• Large skate up to 2.3 m.
• Nose tapered to a sharp point and covered in spines.

Distribution Map from NBN: Rostroraja alba at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Rostroraja alba at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Rostroraja alba

WoRMS: Rostroraja alba at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Rostroraja alba (Lacepède, 1803). AphiaID: 105896.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Chondrichthyes; Elasmobranchii; Neoselachii; Batoidea; Rajiformes; Rajidae; Rostroraja