Big skates are usually seen buried in sediment with only their eyes showing.
They feed on polychaete worms, molluscs, crustaceans, and small benthic fishes.
Polychaetes and molluscs comprise a slightly greater percentage of the diet of younger individuals.
A known predator of big skates is the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorhynchus cepedianus); the eyespots on the skates' wings are believed to serve as decoys to confuse predators.
Juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are known to consume the egg cases of the big skate.
Known parasites of the big skate include the copepod Lepeophtheirus cuneifer.

This species is oviparous, and is one of the few skate species that typically has more than one embryo within each egg capsule, commonly called "mermaid's purses" when they are found washed up on beaches.
The egg capsule of a big skate is the largest of any skate, measuring 23–31 cm (9–12 in) long and 11–19 cm (4–7 in) wide.
Each capsule is oblong in shape and has a highly arched dorsal surface, nearly flat ventral surface, and parallel lateral edges that become somewhat concave towards the center of the case.
At the corners of the case, four blunt, broad horns are seen, with the posterior pair being slightly longer.
A single egg capsule may contain one to seven (usually three or four) eggs.

The female deposits her eggs in pairs on sandy or muddy flats; the breeding season is indiscrete, and egg-laying occurs year-round.
Females may use distinct spawning beds, as large numbers of egg cases have been found in certain localized areas.
The young emerge after 9 months and measure 18–23 cm (7–9 in).
Female big skates mature at 1.3–1.4 m (4 ft 3 in–4 ft 7 in) long and 12–13 years old, while males mature at 0.9–1.1 m (2 ft 11 in–3 ft 7 in) long and 7-8 years old.
The growth rates of big skates in the Gulf of Alaska are comparable to those off California, but differ from those off British Columbia.
The lifespans of big skates off Alaska are up to 15 years, while those off British Columbia are up to 26 years.
Big skates are usually seen buried in sediment with only their eyes showing. They feed on polychaete worms, molluscs, crustaceans, and small benthic fishes. Polychaetes and molluscs comprise a slightly greater percentage of the diet of younger individuals. A known predator of big skates is the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorhynchus cepedianus); the eyespots on the skates' wings are believed to serve as decoys to confuse predators. Juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are known to consume the egg cases of the big skate. Known parasites of the big skate include the copepod Lepeophtheirus cuneifer.
This species is oviparous, and is one of the few skate species that typically has more than one embryo within each egg capsule, commonly called "mermaid's purses" when they are found washed up on beaches. The egg capsule of a big skate is the largest of any skate, measuring 23–31 cm (9–12 in) long and 11–19 cm (4–7 in) wide. Each capsule is oblong in shape and has a highly arched dorsal surface, nearly flat ventral surface, and parallel lateral edges that become somewhat concave towards the center of the case. At the corners of the case, four blunt, broad horns are seen, with the posterior pair being slightly longer. A single egg capsule may contain one to seven (usually three or four) eggs.
The female deposits her eggs in pairs on sandy or muddy flats; the breeding season is indiscrete, and egg-laying occurs year-round. Females may use distinct spawning beds, as large numbers of egg cases have been found in certain localized areas. The young emerge after 9 months and measure 18–23 cm (7–9 in). Female big skates mature at 1.3–1.4 m (4 ft 3 in–4 ft 7 in) long and 12–13 years old, while males mature at 0.9–1.1 m (2 ft 11 in–3 ft 7 in) long and 7-8 years old. The growth rates of big skates in the Gulf of Alaska are comparable to those off California, but differ from those off British Columbia. The lifespans of big skates off Alaska are up to 15 years, while those off British Columbia are up to 26 years.
Big skate