The common skate or blue skate (Dipturus batis) is the largest skate in the world attaining a length of more than 250 cm and weigh up to 220 lb (100 kg. it has been listed as Critically Endangered globally in 2006 by the UN. It is threatened both in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. In both areas, it seems likely due to fishing trawls that are after things like hake or anglerfish, and who simply catch the Common Skate by accident. Common Skate around 11 years to reach sexual maturity. Once it has reached sexual maturity, they will only reproduce every other year. They mate in the spring and during the summer they lay approximately 40 egg cases which they put in sandy/muddy flats. The embryos then develop for 2 to 5 months before leaving their egg case. Egg cases are measured up to 25 cm long (excluding the horns) and 15 cm wide. In the 19th and 20th centuries egg cases were usually seen along the entire British coastline in high numbers, but now they are only found in a few selective areas.
