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skate2

  (skāt) pronunciation
n.

Any of various rays of the genus Raja, having a flattened body and greatly expanded pectoral fins that extend around the head.

[Middle English scate, from Old Norse skata.]


 
 
Food and Nutrition: skate

Cartilaginous fish, Raja undulata.

 
Food Lover's Companion: skate

This odd-looking, kite-shaped fish is also called a ray. The names are used interchangeably, though in some quarters the term "skate" is applied to the members of this species that are used for eating, while "ray" generally refers to those (like the electric ray and giant manta ray) that are fished for sport. Skates have winglike pectoral fins that undulate as the fish meanders along the ocean floor (there are also freshwater rays). The fins are the edible part of a skate. Their delicious flesh is firm, white and sweet-not unlike that of the scallop. Depending on the region, skate is available year-round. Like shark meat, skate must be soaked in acidulated water to remove its natural ammonia odor. Skate can be prepared in a variety of ways including poaching, baking and frying. See also fish.

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: skate

Any of nine genera (suborder Rajoidea) of rounded to diamond-shaped rays. These bottom-dwellers are found from tropical to near-Arctic waters and from the shallows to depths of more than 9,000 ft (2,700 m). Most have spines on the upper surface, and some have weak electrical organs in their long, slender tails. Skates lay oblong, leathery eggs (called mermaid's purses), which are often found on beaches. Species vary from 20 in. (50 cm) to 8 ft (2.5 m) long. They swim with an undulating movement of their pectoral fins. They trap active mollusk, crustacean, and fish prey by dropping down on them from above. Skates' "wings" are edible.

For more information on skate, visit Britannica.com.

 
Wikipedia: skate
This article is about the fish. For other uses, see Skate (disambiguation).
Skates
Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis
Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rajidae
Broad skate, Amblyraja badia
Enlarge
Broad skate, Amblyraja badia
A skate egg case, known as a mermaid's purse.
Enlarge
A skate egg case, known as a mermaid's purse.
Skate wings.
Enlarge
Skate wings.

Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. They are carnivorous, feeding mostly on smaller fish and crustaceans. They have flat pectoral fins continuous with their head, two dorsal fins and a short, spineless tail. There are more than 200 described species in 25 genera.

Skates are benthic (bottom-dwelling) and are found throughout the world from continental shelves down to the abyssal zone. They are oviparous fishes, laying eggs in a horny case known as a mermaid's purse. It is thought that egg-laying in skates is an evolutionary reversal, that is, skates are descended from ovoviviparous ancestors.[1]

The common skate, Dipturus batis, is the largest found in British waters. It has a long, pointed snout. However, the most common skate in British seas is the thornback ray, Raja clavata. They are frequently caught by trawling. Common skate and white skate are assessed as Critically Endangered by IUCN (World Conservation Union) and the fish is listed by the Marine Conservation Society as a "fish to avoid".[2]

Consumption

Skate is edible, and skate "wings" are regarded as being somewhat similar in taste and texture to scallops. They have soft bones. In French cuisine, skate wings are usually poached and served with a sauce made of butter and capers.In some Icelandic homes, skate is consumed on 23 December as part of the celebration of Christmas.[3]

Genera

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rajidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. August 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
  2. ^ "Fish to Avoid: Skate" from the Marine Conservation Society, retrieved November 11, 2006
  3. ^ Iceland's Christmas Foods. [http://www.foodmuseum.com/ The FOOD Museum. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.

External links

Wikibooks
Wikibooks Cookbook has an article on

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Food and Nutrition. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2005 by A. E. Bender and D. A. Bender. All rights reserved.  Read more
Food Lover's Companion. Food Lover's Companion. Copyright © 2001 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Skate".  Read more

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