Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: aenigma: Name from Latin 'aenigma' or enigma, in allusion to its unresolved taxonomic status.
More on authors: Last & McEachran.
Issue
Placement in the genus is provisional pending the discovery of juvenile specimens. Based on a 43.6 cm TL female holotype which is probably close to maturity, lacking both rostral and orbital thorns (Ref. 58023).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range ? - 437 m (Ref. 58023). Deep-water
Western Pacific: New Zealand.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 43.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 58023)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
A species of Brochiraja with the following combination of characters: rounded disc; very long tail, 1.5 times disc length, 2.9 times ventral head length, 6.8 times snout length; orbit moderately large, 2.4 in preorbital snout length; calcified rostral shaft very short; tail base narrow, width at pelvic fin insertions 2 times width at midlength; dermal denticles closely spaced, over entire upper disc; mid-dorsal surface of tail with thorns and denticles; dorsolateral surface of tail without thorns; orbital thorns absent; entire ventral surface naked; medium brownish with darker mottling above and below; indistinct rows of pale-edged pores on ventral surface; nuchal pore band indistinct; anterior pelvic fin lobe bulbous, black tipped; total pectoral radials 73-74; predorsal vertebrae 115; c. 30 tooth rows in upper jaw (Ref. 58023).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Known only from a single specimen; no information on mature males or juveniles (Ref. 58023).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Last, P.R. and J.D. McEachran, 2006. New softnose skate genus Brochiraja from New Zealand (Rajidae: Arhynchobatinae) with description of four new species. N. Z. J. Mar. Freshwater Res. 40(1):65-90. (Ref. 58023)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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