Last week a creature from the depths washed up on a north Oregon beach. Not a frill shark or giant squid, but a Longnose Skate. Skates and rays aren't an uncommon sight while diving, but most of us won't see a Longnose because they dwell up to 2,000 feet below the surface.A benthic fish, this deep dweller spent considerable time on the dry sand before being rescued by the Seaside Aquarium. Nearby beach goers (actually a group of people observing a bird for possible rescue), dug a hole in the sand and filled it with water until the aquarium staff arrived. "He's in pretty bad shape because of being in the air so long, so it's hard to say if he's going to make it," according to Keith Chandler of the aquarium staff.
The rescued skate measures 32 inches in length and has two eyespots (fake eyes) to distract predators. Little is known about the Longnose although they can be found between the Bering Sea and Baja California.
