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Neoraja iberica Stehmann, Séret, Costa & Baro, 2008 Iberian pygmy skate |
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photo by
Stehmann, Séret, Costa & Baro |
| Family: | Rajidae (Skates) | |||
| Max. size: | 35 cm TL (male/unsexed); 31.6 cm TL (female) | |||
| Environment: | bathydemersal; marine; depth range 270 - 784 m | |||
| Distribution: | Northeastern Atlantic: Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal. | |||
| Diagnosis: | This species is distinguished by the following characteristics: ochre to greyish brown or dark greyish disc and posterior pelvic lobes distinctly ornamented dorsally by many dark brown spots and dots and usually a few paired whitish spots in small and half-grown specimens, all often reduced in larger specimens to few pairs if larger symmetrically placed brown, pale edged spots, plus 1-2 pairs of pale spots or dots; disc inverse heart-shaped with snout tip with short, triangular projections; length of tail about 62% (mean) of TL; lateral folds only along the posterior half or 1/3 of tail length; hypocordal lobe on caudal fin; anterior pelvic lobes about 3/4 of posterior lobe length; no nasobasal fenestrae on cranium, with narrow anterior fontanelle and delicate, thin rostral shaft almost reaching rostral node (Ref. 75590). | |||
| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 December 2014 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||