| Family: |
Rajidae (Skates) |
| Max. size: |
118 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 9 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 1500 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand. |
| Diagnosis: |
Brown dorsally, mottled with white and black spots, and a large dark blotch on each wing; white ventrally (Ref. 26346). |
| Biology: |
Inhabit the continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 26346); usually in coastal waters (Ref. 9258). Found partially buried in sand (Ref. 26346). Feed on fish, shellfish, crabs, and worms (Ref. 114953, 26346). 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 10.2-12.7 cm long and 6.3-8.3 cm wide (Ref. 41249, 41308). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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