| Family: |
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates) |
| Max. size: |
44 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range - 844 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Vanuatu. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species (based on a juvenile male specimen of 44 cm TL) has the following set of characters: disc broadly heart-shaped with snout tip projecting as a short blunted triangle, single preorbital thorn; velvety dorsal surface of disc, covered with very fine denticles; ventral surface of disc naked; long and tapering tail, from base to first dorsal fin, slightly expanded at level of dorsal fins; tail entirely pricked except for its ventral base, an irregular mediodorsal row of small denticles on tail; lateral tail folds expanded at level of dorsal and caudal fins, its width less than tail width; low epichordal caudal-fin lobe; nasal lobes not greatly expanded, width of nasal curtain 7.7% TL; relatively narrow mouth, its width less than 66% of maximum width of nasal curtain and 5.1% TL; anterior and posterior pelvic-fin lobes are subequal in length; dorsal surface is pale greyish brown, ventral surface whitish; total pectoral-fin radials 74, monospondylous centra 27, total diplospondylous centra 116, total centra 143 (Ref. 91035). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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