Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Dipturus: Greek, di = two + Greek, pteryx = fin (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Alain Georges Paul Crosnier (1930-2021) was a French biologist and carcinologist at the MNHN, Paris, who published much on crustaceans. He initiated the deep trawling surveys off Madagascar (1970s). (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 300 - 850 m (Ref. 26282). Deep-water; 19°S - 22°S, 41°E - 44°E (Ref. 114953)
Western Indian Ocean: known from the type locality, southwest coast of Madagascar.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 61.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 114953)
Found on upper insular slope (Ref. 114953). Holotype taken from a depth between 300-850 m (Ref. 26282). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Males reaches maturity at ca. 55 cm TL, females at ca. 57 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 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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