| Family: |
Rajidae (Skates) |
| Max. size: |
69 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 55 - 385 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Central Atlantic: northern Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Mexico. |
| Diagnosis: |
Mucous pores on ventral surface not so black except mouth. Outer rim of nostril fringed. Pair of small white pores behind each spiracle, smaller whitish pores in 2 rows toward the tail (Ref. 7251). Lack of thorns along the midbelt of the disc from the level of the axils of the pectorals to the vicinity of the spiracles. Interspace between the dorsal fins. Upper surface dark olive brown with many small roundish obscure spots of darker brown on disc. Lower surface jet black (Ref. 6902). |
| Biology: |
Found on outer continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 114953). Moderately deep water species (Ref. 6902). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Males reaches maturity at ca. 51cm TL, females at ca. 59cm TL; hatching size unknown (Ref. 114953). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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