Bathyraja minispinosa Ishiyama & Ishihara, 1977
Whitebrow skate
Bathyraja minispinosa
photo by Orlov, A.

Family:  Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Max. size:  82.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 150 - 1420 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: Sea of Okhotsk off Abashiri, Japan to the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Bering Sea.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from its congeners in Bathyraja in having a whitish area along the inner margin of eyes; dorsal side of disc with minute fine prickles; pointed clasper with a pseudosiphon-like groove; dense, minute prickles covering smaller egg capsule (Ref. 75535).
Biology:  Juveniles feed mainly on amphipods, adults feed on crabs and fish (Ref. 27640). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 7.6 cm long and 5.5 cm wide (Ref. 41249).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 June 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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