Bathyraja mariposa Stevenson, Orr, Hoff & McEachran, 2004
Butterfly skate

Family:  Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Max. size:  76 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 90 - 448 m
Distribution:  Northeast Pacific: Aleutian Islands.
Diagnosis:  This species is a medium-sized skate (maximum 76 cm TL) with a broad disc (width 60.9, 69.2% TL), long snout (12.0-14.3% TL), and moderately long tail (50.7-55.0% TL). It is distinguished by the following characters: claspers are slender, without pseudosiphon, projection extending distally well beyond dorsal lobe, dorsal terminal 1 and ventral terminal cartilages are reduced; teeth on upper jaw 21-31 rows; pectoral radials 76-80; pelvic fins I, 21-24; precaudal vertebrae 31-34, predorsal caudal vertebrae 65-72; dorsal surface of disc with uniformly dense covering of fine denticles, except near the margins; thorns absent from disc, tail thorns weak or obsolete; dorsal surface greenish brown with small dark brown or black blotches and irregular light brown to yellow blotches on disc and tail, large yellowish blotch present on posteromedial surface of each pectoral fin (Ref. 55500).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 December 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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