Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: Bathyraja: Greek, bathys = deep + Latin, raja, -ae = a ray (Raja sp) (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Professor Laurence ‘Larry’ Robert Richardson (1911–1988) was a British zoologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 803 - 2500 m (Ref. 26346). Deep-water; 48°N - 42°S
North Atlantic and South Pacific (Cook Strait, New Zealand), but probably cosmopolitan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 175 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3167)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Grey in color; diamond-shaped and without large thorns on body or tail (Ref. 26346).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Found in deepwater on lower parts of continental slopes, on submarine rises and on deep-sea plains adjacent to both (Ref. 3167). Feeds mainly on fishes, with a small amount of shrimps (Ref. 3167). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 3167.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous (Ref. 3167). Paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205).
McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn, 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290. (Ref. 27314)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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![Image of Bathyraja richardsoni (Richardson\](/images/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Baric_u1.jpg "Image of Bathyraja richardsoni (Richardson\")
