| Family: |
Rajidae (Skates) |
| Max. size: |
36 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 135 - 400 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: off Queensland, eastern Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal surface pinkish brown to greyish brown with irregular clusters of small, dark, white-edged spots. Ventral surface pale, occasionally with dark patches around mouth and central disc. Dorsal fins uniform pale brown. Disc quadrangular, broader than long. Snout short to moderate. Tail of medium length, depressed, slender; lateral skin folds well developed. Nuchal thorn small. Orbital thorns usually absent from mid-eye, usually less than 5 in mature specimens. Mature males with denticles along anterolateral margin. |
| Biology: |
Found on the outer continental shelf and upper slopes. Bottom-dweller which feeds on invertebrates, mainly on crustaceans such as shrimps and prawns (Ref. 114953) and bony fish (Ref. 9908). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Males reaches maturity at ca. 30 cm TL, females at ca. 32 cm TL (Ref. 114953). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 April 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
other |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
