Both skates and rays often camouflage themselves on the seabed as a method of protection.Ĥ. Skates only have three recognized families while rays comprise several families.ģ. In addition, the arrangement of placoid scales in each animal is irregular.Ģ. Both are flattened fishes with a cartilage skeleton, wing-like and enlarged pectoral fins that join at the head. Both skates and rays share a number of classifications as well as similar attributes. Skates have small teeth while rays have plate-like teeth that are used for crushing food.īoth skates and rays are captured or cultured to provide food items such as scallops or to be used as main ingredients or as a delicacy in a country’s cuisines.ġ. Teeth are also another category of difference between the two. In terms of comparison in size, rays are considered larger than skates. Rays are often in the shape of a kite with a smooth tail while skates have a more round or triangle shape with small fins in the tail. Skates have no barbs but rely on the projection formations that stick out like thorns on their backs for their protection. The barb and the poison they carry serve as a protection for the ray from intruders or predators. Skates also have more flesh in their tails with no spines compared to rays with thin, whip-like tails and a stinging barb. In terms of anatomy, skates have a prominent dorsal fin while rays have a reduced or no dorsal fin at all. Both female rays and skates abandon their young after birth. This makes them categorized as viviparous. On the other hand, rays expel their young as live young and fully formed. The eggs are released in rectangular pouches or cases called “mermaid’s purses.” The cases are then deposited in a safe place. Skates are known to lay eggs or, in technical terms, oviparous. The major difference between the two animals is their mode of reproduction. Skates and rays can camouflage themselves on a seabed by burying themselves in the sand and conceal themselves in their environment from their predators or intruders. Any further classification (from order to species) between the two animals is already different from each other. Rays, skates, as well as sharks and sawfish belong to this group. The class Chondrichthyes is known to have fishes with cartilage for a skeleton and have gill slits on the head. In terms of scientific classifications, skates and rays belong to the same kingdom (Animalia), Phylum (Chordata), class (Chondrichthyes) and subclass (Elasmobranchii). A ray and a skate are both aquatic animals that belong to almost the same scientific classifications.
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