Notoraja tobitukai (Hiyama, 1940)
Leadhued skate
Notoraja tobitukai
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 60 - 1015 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Japan, Okinawa Trough, East China Sea, and Taiwan (Ref. 41299, Ref. 114953).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Deep sea species. 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 3.6-3.8 cm long and 2.2-2.5 cm wide (Ref. 41249, 41253). Males at 31 cm TL still immature. Life history poorly known (Ref. 114953).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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