Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: Bathyraja: Greek, bathys = deep + Latin, raja, -ae = a ray (Raja sp) (Ref. 45335); mariposa: Name from a Spanish word meaning butterfly, referring to the large yellow patches on the pectoral fins that looks like the shape of butterfly wings.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 90 - 448 m (Ref. 55500). Temperate
Northeast Pacific: Aleutian Islands.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 76.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55500)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Stevenson, D.E., J.W. Orr, G.R. Hoff and J.D. McEachran, 2004. Bathyraja mariposa: a new species of skate (Rajidae: Arhynchobatinae) from the Aleutian Islands. Copeia 2004(2):305-314. (Ref. 55500)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 3.4 - 4.5, mean 3.8 °C (based on 12 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00550 (0.00291 - 0.01038), b=3.13 (2.97 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100).
