| Family: |
Rajidae (Skates) |
| Max. size: |
82.3 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 400 - 1640 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: off southern Rio de Oro in Western Sahara, Namibia, and South Africa. Probably occurs throughout the area along the deeper West African slope. |
| Diagnosis: |
Moderately long snout, small eyes, and a flat disc; tail about as long as body; moderately large, inconspicuous light thorns dorsally and a few on snout; mid-dorsal line of thorns reduced in adolescents and adults (Ref. 5578). Whitish grey to dark grey dorsally, white ventrally with dark rear margins and dark patches on underside of tail (Ref. 5578). |
| Biology: |
Found in deeper slope waters (Ref. 4426). Feed on cephalopods, mysids and small bony fishes (Ref. 5578). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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