BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Dipturus batis
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Ken Neal & Paolo Pizzolla	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
General Biology
Growth form	Pisciform	Feeding method	Predator
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer	Environmental position	Demersal
Typical food types	Bristle worms, sand eels, crabs and flatfish	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator		Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Large(>50cm)
Height		Growth Rate	0.9 - 14 kg/year
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	The growth rate listed above may seem quite rapid but if weight at maturity is taken into consideration, 54 kg for males (Muus & Dahlstrom, 1974) and 94 kg for females (Walker & Hislop 1998) it can be seen that it takes many years to reach maturity. The data for growth rate came from tag and release studies off the west coast of Scotland (Sutcliffe, 1994; Little, 1995, 1998) by comparing weight change of skate between captures. Skates seem to have a start-and-stop growth pattern, where they have rapid growth for a short period and then remain at that weight for some time with no growth until they have another episode of rapid growth (Sutcliffe, 1994).
Biology References	Muus & Dahlstrom, 1974, Sutcliffe, 1994, Walker & Hislop, 1998, Brander, 1981, Little, 1998, Little, 1995, Mitchell & Gallagher, 2000, Anon, 1999vii,