Slowly skating through the deep sea 💫 The spiny skate, Bathyraja spinosissima, is a large skate found in deep water rocky habitat, at depths of up to 2,900 meters (9,500 feet).This species is especially common in rocky lava fields and is known to reproduce near hydrothermal vents. The vents bathe the skate’s leathery egg cases in warm water, speeding up the development of embryos inside. Skates are fishes related to sharks and rays. They have a flattened body with a pointy, spade-like snout. They swim and glide using a pair of large, wing-like pectoral fins. Skates are found in a variety of ocean habitats around the world. While we know a lot about the skates that dwell in shallow coastal waters, we know relatively little about those that call the ocean’s inky depths their home. Observations from our advanced underwater robots have provided valuable information about deep-dwelling skates. Our research is filling in the gaps in scientists’ baseline knowledge of rarely-seen deep-sea skates. These data become especially important as climate change and overfishing continue to threaten biological communities. The more we learn about deep-sea sharks, skates, and rays, the better we can protect them and their habitats.