Zearaja brevicaudata (Marini, 1933)
Short tail Yellownose skate

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  32.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 25 - 350 m
Distribution:  Southwestern Atlantic, from southern Brazil to at least the Beagle Channel (Argentina and Chile).
Diagnosis:  This relatively large species of skate with a rhombic-shaped disc is distinguished by the following set of characters: snout relatively large, 1.7-2.9 times tail length; tail short, 2.1-2.7 times in total length, with a short distance between the first gill openings, 3.42-4.19 times indirect disc length; dermal denticles mainly restricted to the rostral area, both in dorsal and ventral surfaces; denticles more conspicuous in adults, and can be absent or in less number in neonates and juveniles; tail with 3-5 rows of thorns (rarely only one); clasper relatively long and stout, 74-78% of the tail’s length in adult specimens; terminal bridge (Tb) straight towards the tip of dorsal terminal 2, and the spike is thin and does not reach the Tb; ventral terminal cartilage has a short apophysis, and its outer edge is narrow; distal tip of the axial is relatively narrow (Ref. 128044).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 27 November 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.