Skate

Skate, any of various fish (genus Raja) similar to rays. A popular skate used for food is the little skate (R. erinacea), which measures up to 2 ft (61 cm) long and is caught along the U.S. and Canadian Atlantic coast. Along the Pacific coast, the big skate (R. binoculata), which can measure up to 8 ft (2.5 m) long, are found. The pectoral fins of skate look and act like underwater wings, spanning the length of the fish from head nearly to its rudderlike tail. The wings move up and down to move the fish along. Skates generally feed on smaller animals, such as snails.