Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: Notoraja: Greek, noton = back + Latin, raja = fish, Raja sp. (Ref. 45335); hesperindica: Name from combination of Greek 'hesper' for westerly, and Latin 'indicus' for Indian, referring to the distribution of the new species..
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1230 - 1600 m (Ref. 123885). Deep-water
Western Indian Ocean: off southern Mozambique and off northwestern Madagascar.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 53.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123885)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished from most of its congeners by the intense dark blue-grayish coloration and large dorsolateral tail thorns. It is further distinct with the following characters: disc evenly inverse heart-shaped, with broadly rounded outer corners; body length to mid-cloaca is shorter than tail length from mid-cloaca; snout very long direct preorbital length 15.1-16.7% TL.; orbits are relatively small, horizontal diameter 0.9-1.2 times interorbital width; dorsal surface nearly completely devoid of denticles except the trunk area close to pectoral axils where bands of few denticles start and continue as more pronounced rows on tail; anterior tail with several short rows of spinules and a rather regular row of small spinules on lateral tail; one small preorbital thorn on each side; a regular or irregular row of about 16-25 small median tail thorns; lateral tail with 2 irregular rows of about 15-25 dorsolateral thorns that are much larger than the median thorns. Colouration when fresh, the dorsal disc plain intense dark blue, somewhat mottled blackish-brown in the orbital and snout regions, pelvic fins and claspers medium brownish blue, tail dark blackish blue; the ventral surface dark (Ref. 123885).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Weigmann, S., B. Séret and M.F.W. Stehmann, 2021. Notoraja hesperindica sp. nov., a new colorful deep-sea softnose skate (Elasmobranchii, Rajiformes, Arhynchobatidae) and first generic record from the western Indian Ocean. Mar. Biodiv. 51(2)[35]:online. (Ref. 123885)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00550 (0.00273 - 0.01106), b=3.10 (2.93 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).
