Hi blog readers!

Just as their name implies they have a clear "window” on the front of their nose - don't you just love when names makes sense! The Clearnose skate is found along the Atlantic coast of the United States from Massachusetts to Florida in the inshore waters. They possess hooked "thorns” along their dorsal ridge and down their tail (so remember when petting them to use a gentle front-to-back motion and not to touch the tail). They also have two dorsal fins on the tip of their tails.

Skates differ from Stingray in a few ways:

• Skates lay eggs, called mermaid's purses; stingrays give birth to live young.
• Stingrays are smooth and feel almost like jello where as skates have raised dermal denticles, this causes their skin to feel like sandpaper (similar to how a shark feels).
• Also, because stingrays feed primarily by crushing they have very flat tooth plates; skate's teeth are more conical (sharper) to allow them to consume the fish and shrimp they prefer.

Because of their conical teeth the skates do not get fed during the public feeding program (we feed them before we open), but feel free to touch them to experience the texture of their skin.

Come by and visit our skates and rays so that you can see first hand the differences and similarities they have.

Hope to see you soon,

Brittany