It is found on rocky bottoms at 18–982 m depths (typically 70–150 m) in the Northeast and Eastern Central Pacific, from Coronado Bank in northern Baja California in Mexico to Barkley Sound in British Columbia, Canada.

[1] Caliraja stellulata skates have a row of strong spines along their mid-dorsal lines.

Starry skates have a horizontal, fleshy ridge from either side of the ventral surface to the tail; this is more prominent in the posterior.

The egg cases of the starry skate are striated and have long, robust horns.

In this case, the northernmost location of C. stellulata would be the Karkley Sound in British Columbia.

[1] The species name, stellulata, is derived from the Latin word stellular, meaning small star.