It occurs at depths of 846 to 2,324 metres (2,776 to 7,625 ft), and has been observed via remotely operated underwater vehicle by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute as deep as 3,167 metres (10,390 ft), making it one of the deepest-occurring skates known.

[3] The species name, badia, comes from the Latin batius meaning "brown", referring to its color.

[4] The pectoral fin disc of the broad skate is wider than it is long, with sharply rounded apices.

Whitish areas are on the snout, upper abdomen, nostrils, mouth, gill slits, and anal opening.

[4] Broad skates feed on cephalopods, crustaceans, and small bony fishes such as rattails.