University of New England

Little Skate Life History
Angela Cicia
Class of 2008

The Little Skate, Leucoraja erinacea, is the most common inshore skate species found in the Gulf of Maine (GOM).  Historically, skates possessed little commercial value and were discarded.  However, as a result of recent increases in commercial landings, three GOM skate species have been prohibited from commercial capture and a fourth species is currently labeled as over-fished.  Unfortunately, the little skate's population is following the same precipitous decline, making it the potentially the fifth species of skate placed on an over fished or prohibited status.

The goal of the current project is to determine, the age, growth, and sexual maturity for the little skate.  Age and growth is currently being estimated through analsis of annual band counts of 169 males and 291 females ranging in size from 14-58 cm total length (TL).  Sexual maturity is being evaluated using three parameters, reproductive morphology, histology, and steroid hormone concentrations.  Preliminary morphological analysis in females has revealed that skates are sexually mature when shell gland and ovary mass reach 4.0 and 5.0 grams, respectfully, and average follicle diameter reaches 12mm.  Males are considered sexually mature when claspers reach a length of 12.0 cm and  testes weigh 4.0 grams.  Preliminary results suggest that both males and females appear to reach sexual maturity at toal lengths ranging from 470mm - 500mm, which is a larger size than any past study has predicted.

Questions about the project?
email Angela
acicia@mail.une.edu
or Dr. Sulikowski
jsulikowski@une.edu