Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Dipturus: Greek, di = two + Greek, pteryx = fin (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: John Davis (1550–1605), an English navigator, is better remembered for having a strait rather than a skate named after him: the Davis Strait between Greenland and Labrador. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Alcock.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 220 - 660 m (Ref. 114953). Deep-water; 15°N - 8°S, 40°E - 94°E (Ref. 114953)
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden and Travancore coast in India. Questionably from near Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 54.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 114953)
Inhabits upper continental slope (Ref. 114953). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
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 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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