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); cousseauae: Named for María Berta Cousseau of Dept. de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.
Eponymy: Dr Maria Berta Cousseau is an Argentine ichthyologist who is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 119 - 284 m (Ref. 55502). Subtropical
Southwestern Atlantic: Off northern Patagonian, off Mar del Plata, Argentina. Southeast Pacific: Chile.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 86.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55502)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished by having the following characters: a large and very distinct round pale area ocellus-like, margined with dark brown on posterior part of each pectoral base of the upper side of the disc; upper surface of disc fully covered with numerous small spinules, also on interorbital area, tail, dorsal fins, and posterior pelvic lobes; larger individuals with scattered spinules distributed in central parts of the disc; ocular thorns absent; continuous row of 21-27 median thorns from nuchal; region to first dorsal fin; males have elongated, slender rod-shaped claspers; dorsal fin densely spinulose close to the end of tail and with no space between them (Ref. 55502).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Díaz de Astarloa, J.M. and E. Mabragaña, 2004. Bathyraja cousseauae sp. n.: a new softnose skate from the southwestern Atlantic (Rajiformes, Rajidae). Copeia 2004(2):326-335. (Ref. 55502)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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