| Family: |
Rajidae (Skates) |
| Max. size: |
180 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 13 years |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 9 - 1069 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Pacific: Navarin Canyon in the Bering Sea and Unalaska Island, Alaska to Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A row of about 20 sharp mid-dorsal spines from base of tail to space between dorsal spines where there may be an additional spine; 1 or 2 mid-dorsal spines immediately behind eyes; a sparse discontinuous row of spines around inner edge of orbit (Ref. 6885). Dorsal fins small and well back on tail; caudal reduced to a low ridge; anal fin absent; pectorals broad, attached to snout and incorporated with body; pelvic fins acutely and very deeply incised (Ref. 6885). A fleshy lateral ridge on each side of tail (Ref. 6885). Dorsal surface uniform brown with a simple dark ring at the base of each pectoral fin, and there may be a light spot posterior to the ring; the ventral surface is a muddy blue with small brown flecks on the anterior part (Ref. 6885). |
| Biology: |
Found partially or completely buried on sand and silty bottoms (Ref. 27436). Adults feed mainly on bony fishes (Ref. 114953). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 9.4-13.0 cm long and 5.7-7.7 cm wide (Ref. 41249, 41300, 41357). Males reaches maturity at ca. 62-74 cm TL, females at 70-100 cm TL; young hatch at 12-17 cm TL (Ref. 114953). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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