Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: Bathyraja: Greek, bathys = deep + Latin, raja, -ae = a ray (Raja sp) (Ref. 45335); interrupta: Named after Professor Trevor Kincaid from the University of Washington (Ref. 6885). More on authors: Gill & Townsend.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 23 - 1500 m (Ref. 27436). Deep-water; 67°N - 32°N, 136°E - 117°W
North Pacific: off Cape Navarin in the western Bering Sea and Agattu Island (Aleutian Islands) to Cortez Bank, southern California, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 86.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 0;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 0. A single row of strong sharp spines along mid-dorsal line from a point about 1 interorbital space behind the orbits to the first dorsal fin; 1 or 2 large spines on shoulder girdle; in males, patches of large sharp spines near tips of pectoral fins and extending toward snout along margin of the fin (Ref. 6885). Caudal fin much reduced; pelvic fins large and deeply notched (Ref. 6885). All fins covered with scales (Ref. 6885). Adults slate black on back; juveniles a uniform grayed brown with small brown spots; white on ventral surface; white spot on either side of tail evident in small individuals (Ref. 6885).
Inhabit the outer continental shelf, on mud or sand bottoms (Ref. 27436). Frequently found buried in substrate (Ref. 27436). Feed on benthic invertebrates and fishes. 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 4.9-5.9 cm long and 4.0-5.0 cm wide (Ref. 41300). 6-9 eggs are produced annually (Ref. 41300). Although the pectoral fins may be used to prepare a variety of dishes, they are generally considered not saleable, and incidental catches are usually discarded (Ref. 27436). Occasionally used to produce mink feed and fertilizer (Ref. 27436). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 6793.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205).
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. 120744)
CITES (Ref. 118484)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
115969): 1 - 5.4, mean 2.1 (based on 298 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00447 (0.00296 - 0.00674), b=3.06 (2.94 - 3.18), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.46 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=6).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High to very high vulnerability (68 of 100) .
