Dentiraja cerva (Whitley, 1939)
Whitespotted skate

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  66 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 20 - 470 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: endemic to Australia.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Occur over soft bottoms of the continental shelf and slope (Ref. 7300, 75154). Mainly feeds on benthic crustaceans, small fishes and octopi (Ref. 114953). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules measure 7.0 cm long and 3.8 cm wide (Ref. 6778). This species reaches maturity after 5 years. Maturity size of males at ca. 45 cm TL; young hatch at ca. 11 cm TL (Ref. 114953). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 6871).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 09 February 2021 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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