Notoraja inusitata Séret & Last, 2012

Family:  Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Max. size:  44 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range - 844 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Vanuatu.
Diagnosis:  This species (based on a juvenile male specimen of 44 cm TL) has the following set of characters: disc broadly heart-shaped with snout tip projecting as a short blunted triangle, single preorbital thorn; velvety dorsal surface of disc, covered with very fine denticles; ventral surface of disc naked; long and tapering tail, from base to first dorsal fin, slightly expanded at level of dorsal fins; tail entirely pricked except for its ventral base, an irregular mediodorsal row of small denticles on tail; lateral tail folds expanded at level of dorsal and caudal fins, its width less than tail width; low epichordal caudal-fin lobe; nasal lobes not greatly expanded, width of nasal curtain 7.7% TL; relatively narrow mouth, its width less than 66% of maximum width of nasal curtain and 5.1% TL; anterior and posterior pelvic-fin lobes are subequal in length; dorsal surface is pale greyish brown, ventral surface whitish; total pectoral-fin radials 74, monospondylous centra 27, total diplospondylous centra 116, total centra 143 (Ref. 91035).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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