page_title: Skate (fish)
section_title: Skates versus stingrays
hierarchical_section_title: Skate (fish) / Skates versus stingrays
caption_attribution_description: English: Rajidae
context_page_description: Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. More than 150 species have been described, in 17 genera. Softnose skates and pygmy skates were previously treated as subfamilies of Rajidae, but are now considered as distinct families. Alternatively, the name "skate" is used to refer to the entire order of Rajiformes.
  Members of Rajidae are distinguished by their stiff snout and a rostrum that is not reduced.
context_section_description: Skates are like stingrays in that they have five pairs of gill slits that are located ventrally, which means on the underside of their body (unlike sharks that have their gills located on their sides). Skates and rays both have pectoral fins that are flat and expanded, which are typically fused to the head. Both skates and stingrays typically have their eyes on top of their head. Skates also share similar feeding habits with rays.
  Skates are different from rays in that they lack a whip-like tail and stinging spines. However, some skates have electric organs located in their tail. The main difference between skates and rays is that skates lay eggs, whereas rays give birth to live young.
  
  Moreover, skates can be more abundant than rays, and are fished for food in some parts of the world.
caption: Skates swim with their pectoral fins
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