Dipturus doutrei (Cadenat, 1960)
Violet skate

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  115 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 163 - 1200 m
Distribution:  Eastern Central Atlantic to Southwest Indian Ocean: off Mauritania to South Africa (east to Cape Province) (Ref. 114953).
Diagnosis:  an all-dark longnose skate with an elongated, acutely triangular snout, and a stout tail - shorter than body and with mid-section swollen sausage-shaped; disc with narrowly rounded outer corners and smooth underside except for small denticles on snout; no thorns on nape or along back (Ref. 5578). Dark brown with irregular dark blotches dorsally; rear end of disc and pelvic fins blackish; underside dark brown with black pores and scattered lighter blotches on disc, at base of pelvic fins, around vent, and on tail (Ref. 5578).
Biology:  Occurs in deeper slope waters (Ref. 4426). Feeds on benthic fishes, shrimps and crabs (Ref. 27637, Ref. 114953). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Males reaches maturity at ca. 101 cm TL (Ref. 114953).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.