Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Caliraja: The prefix name Cali- refers to the state of California, United States and Gulf of California, Baja California, Mexico, the regions where the types of all four recognized species were described.
Eponymy: The etymologies do not help, but we believe these species are named after the Sea of Cortez where the holotypes were caught, or in the case of the eelpout, Cortez Bank off San Diego, California. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 15 - 90 m (Ref. 114953), usually ? - 80 m (Ref. 9261). Subtropical; 28°N - 25°N, 113°W - 108°W (Ref. 114953)
Eastern Central Pacific: endemic to Gulf of California (Mexico)
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 39.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 114953)
Benthic on the inner part of the continental shelf (Ref. 9261). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Males reaches maturity at ca. 34 cm TL (Ref. 114953)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
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 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
FAO -
