| Family: |
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates) |
| Max. size: |
122.4 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 1760 - 1789 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand. |
| Diagnosis: |
This large species (to 122 cm TL) is distinguished by the following set of characters (based on the unique holotype specimen): strongly depressed and quadrangular disc with narrowly rounded apices, width 64% TL, 1.1 times its length; rather short tail, its length 0.8 in distance from snout tip to rear of cloaca, and width 1.8 times height at its midlength, 1.5 times at first dorsal-fin origin; pre-upper jaw length 18% TL, which is 2.3 times internasal width; ventral head length 32% TL; long and broad snout, length 4.0 times interorbital width, supported by slender flexible median cartilage; angle of snout 83°; narrow mouth 7% TL; orbit diameter 57% interorbital width; first dorsal-fin height is 1.7 in its base length; procaudal length 2.3 times first dorsal-fin base length, 4.8 times caudal-fin length; dorsal disc and almost entirely devoid of fine denticles; disc thornless, other than narrow alar thorn patches; tail with 16 (one lost) thorns in single median row; total pectoral radials 84-85; trunk centra 34; predorsal centra 105; total centra ca. 136; tooth rows in upper jaw 29; the skin is thin and almost entirely translucent white, no dark areas on body, sensory pores indistinct (not dark edged) (Ref. 110384). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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