Fish

Raja batis

A tier

Raja batis (now usually Dipturus batis, common or blue skate) is a large European skate with classic wing meat—striated, slightly sweet, and gelatinous at the cartilage when poached. True common skate is critically endangered in much of its range and should not be targeted. Historical recipes for skate with black butter assume this kind of wing. Modern cooks should use more abundant ray species sold as skate wings. Listed to identify the species behind old texts and to flag avoidance.