Broad skate vs

Amblyraja badia compared with Chrysococcus rufescens

Key Differences

• Broad skate is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broad skate
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)
Order	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)	Chromulinales (Chromulinales)
Family	Rajidae	Dinobryaceae
Genus	Amblyraja	Chrysococcus
Species	Amblyraja badia	Chrysococcus rufescens

Conservation Status

Broad skate

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broad skate
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broad skate

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Broad skate

The Broad Skate (Amblyraja badia) is a species in the genus Amblyraja. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is recognized for its ecological significance within its native range.

Chrysococcus rufescens is a loricate chrysophyte alga in the genus Chrysococcus. The specific epithet rufescens (Latin: reddish or becoming reddish) likely refers to a brownish-golden coloration of the lorica or the pigmented cell contents visible under light microscopy, reflecting the characteristic golden-brown color imparted by fucoxanthin and related carotenoids in chrysophyte chloroplasts. The lorica of C. rufescens encloses the cell and has an apical opening through which the flagellum extends. The species inhabits freshwater environments in northern Europe, including lakes and ponds in Scandinavia. Golden algae (chrysophytes) are typically most abundant in oligotrophic, cold, and poorly buffered waters, making them sensitive indicators of environmental change. C. rufescens contributes to primary production and the microbial food web as a mixotrophic nanoplankton organism capable of both photosynthesis and bacterivory. Chrysophyte loricas are preserved in lake sediments as stomatocysts and scale assemblages, providing long-term paleoecological records. The species has not been evaluated for conservation status by the IUCN and is categorized as Not Evaluated. Accurate identification of C. rufescens requires electron microscopy of lorica ultrastructure.