Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Dipturus: Greek, di = two + Greek, pteryx = fin (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; bathydemersal; depth range ? - 439 m (Ref. 5578). Deep-water; 24°S - 25°S, 35°E - 37°E (Ref. 114953)
Western Indian Ocean: known only from off the Limpopo River mouth, Mozambique.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 82.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5578)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
A pale-spotted longnose skate with an elongated, acutely triangular snout, and a very slender tail- as long as body and tapering from base to tip; disc with angular corners and smooth underside except of small denticles on edges and tip of snout; thorns on upper surface of disc and tail conspicuously lighter than surrounding skin; spine at nape (Ref. 5578). Dark grey with numerous small light spots dorsally; grey with black pores ventrally, and with light areas around gills and at front of edge of disc (Ref. 5578).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Probably taken by offshore trawlers (Ref. 5578). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, 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 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00282 (0.00131 - 0.00604), b=3.25 (3.08 - 3.42), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (53 of 100).
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