| Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates) |
| 50.9 cm (male/unsexed) |
|
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 300 - 1200 m |
| Southwest Pacific: Lord Howe Rise, Challenger Plateau and northern continental slope of New Zealand south to the Clatham Rise, onto the Campbell Plateau, Pukaki Rise and Bounty Platform. |
|
A small species having the following diagnostic characters: long tail, 1.2-1.3 times disc length, 2.1-2.6 times ventral head length, 4-5 times snout length; large orbit, 2.6-3.4 in preorbital snout length; tail base moderately broad, width at pelvic-fin insertions 1.9-2.7 times width at midlength; denticles confined to central disc behind eye; tail thorns in single, median row; single, well-developed preorbital and postorbital thorns; ventral disc and tail naked; rostral thorn bifurcated, pronounced, close to snout tip, distance from snout tip 3-4.3 in preorbital length; calcified rostral shaft long; alar thorns in small patch of long-based, posteromedially directed thorns flanked laterally by patch of much smaller, more posteriorly directed malar thorns; additional malar thorn patch lateral to eye, usually separate from posterior patch; upper surface bluish, ventral surface much darker bluish brown; rows of strongly contrasted, pale-edged pores on ventral surface; nuchal pore band is distinct; total pectoral radials 64-69; predorsal vertebrae 95-100; tooth rows in the upper jaw 32-43 (Ref. 58023). |
| Male paratype mature at 43.2 cm TL (Ref. 58023). |
|
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 22 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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