Family: |
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates) |
Max. size: |
32.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 600 - 1200 m |
Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand. |
Diagnosis: |
A dwarf species with the following combination of characters: tail moderately elongate, 1.2-1.4 times disc length, 2.5-2.7 times ventral head length, 5.3-6.3 times snout length; orbit moderately large, 2.1-2.8 in preorbital snout length; tail base moderately broad, width at pelvic-fin insertions 2.1-3.1 times width at midlength; fine dermal dentic1es present over entire dorsal disc; rostral thorns reduced in adult, about equidistant from orbit and snout tip (snout length 1.8-2.1 times their distance from snout tip); mid-dorsal surface of tail naked apart from single row of moderately enlarged thorns extending anteriorly onto interpelvic space; dorsolateral surface of tail with numerous smaller thorns and large denticles; single preorbital thorn, postorbital thorn absent; ventral disc and tail naked; calcified rostral shaft short; alar thorns in small, well-defined patch; malar thorns absent; both surfaces of disc dark brown; with or without pale-edged pores on ventral surface; nuchal pore band indistinct; total pectoral radials 58-63; predorsal vertebrae 81-88; tooth rows in the upper jaw 33-37 (Ref. 58023). |
Biology: |
Male paratype mature at 27 cm TL; no information on juveniles (Ref. 58023). |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 22 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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