25.3 Cruriraja parcomaculata
Von Bonde & Swart, 1923
PLATE 6
Raja parcomaculata Von Bonde & Swart , 1923: 9, PI. 21, Fig. 2 (off
Durban) . Raia smithi: Smith, SFSA No. 68* (part). Cruriraja
parcomaculata: Smith, 1964: 188*; Wallace, 1967: 11* ; Hulley, 1970:
157*; 1972: 78* .
Disc 1.2-1.4 times broader than long; maximum angle in front of
spiracles 112° (adult males) to 120° (juveniles and females); distance from
middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.1-1.2 times distance from tip of snout to
middle of vent; D (fins) separate. Snout length 2.6-3.5 times interorbital
distance . Upper jaw teeth in 39-44 rows (adults) , 30-31 rows (juveniles) .
66-69 pre dorsal caudal vertebrae.
Juveniles with 5 thorns around inner margin of orbit, 1 interspiracular
and 2 scapular thorns on each side; 1 median nuchal spine; 23-27 middorsal thorns from scapular region to 1st D origin, flanked laterally by
irregular series of smaller spines; 2-3 thorns in dorsal interspace; entire
upper surface of disc with fine spinules, except on outer rear edges; larger
spines on tip of snout and along front margins of disc.
Adults with 11-13 thorns around inner margin of orbit, 2 interspiracular
and 3 scapular thorns on each side ; 2-4 median nuchal spines, arranged in
double series; 4-5 irregular rows stellate-based thorns mid-dorsally from
scapular region to 1st D origin , diminishing to double series of slender,
recurved spines about halfway along tail , flanked laterally by a row of
smaller spines on each side, from rear edge of V to dorsal interspace;
lateral row of thorns along each side of tail; 4-8 thorns in dorsal interspace;
group ofthorns as stated in Key above and on front margins of disc; otherwise upper surface smooth.
Dorsally uniform brown, sometimes with scattered
darker patches on disc and tail (juveniles) or with irregular
lighter and darker areas (adults); ventrally white. Attains
55 cm TL, 35 cm DW. Known only from Liideritz to Durban
in about 260 - 620 m.
I
25.3 Cruriraja parcomaculata: 33 em wide (Algoa Bay).
25: RAJIDAE (SKATES)
25.4 Cruriraja triangularis
Smith,1964
Cruriraja triangularis Smith, 1964: 290, PI. 28 (off Durban) ; Wallace,
1967: 8*; Hulley, 1970: 156; 1972: 78.
Disc about 1.3 times broader than long; maximum angle in front of
spiracles about 90°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin about 1.3
times distance from tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) separate. Snout
pointed but not produced; its length 3.9 times interorbital distance. Upper
jaw teeth in 42-46 rows. 65-70 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 7-12 thorns
around inner margins of orbit and 1-2 interspiracular thorns; 1-5 median
nuchal spines; suprascapular spines absent; a mid-dorsal row of thorns
from abdominal region to 1st D origin, diminishing in size posteriorly and
flanked laterally by a dorsolateral rowan each side, from rear end of V to
1st D origin ; lateral row of thorns along each side of tail; 3-4 interdorsal
thorns; 2 rows of thorns along front half of rostrum ; otherwise smooth.
Dorsally uniform grey-brown, with dusky patches along
each side of midline; ventrally pale, rear margins of disc and
V darker. Attains 41 cm TL, 24 cm DW. Known only from
23°S (Mozambique) to Durban, in about 220 - 420 m.
25.4 Cruriraja triangularis: 15.5 cm wide female holotype; ventral view of pelvic
fins of paratype. 12 cm wide (both off Durban).
Genus Neoraja McEachran & Compagno, 1982
Snout angular to obtusely rounded, tip with short broad
process, front margin of disc nearly straight to strongly concave. Pelvic fins deeply incised, anterior lobes long, narrow
and bluntly to acutely pointed. Tail generally greater than
60% ofTL, with epicaudal and hypocaudallobes. Moderate
to small thorns along inner margin of orbits, over scapular
and nuchal region (but not forming distinct triangular patch),
along midline of disc in 1 or 3 distinct rows and along tail in 1
or 3 rows; upper surface of disc more or less evenly covered
with denticles.
McEachran & Campagna (1982) recognise 2 subgenera
(Neoraja, Fenestraja) with about 10 species; 1 species in our
area.
117
Von Bonde & Swart, 1923
PLATE 6
Raja parcomaculata Von Bonde & Swart , 1923: 9, PI. 21, Fig. 2 (off
Durban) . Raia smithi: Smith, SFSA No. 68* (part). Cruriraja
parcomaculata: Smith, 1964: 188*; Wallace, 1967: 11* ; Hulley, 1970:
157*; 1972: 78* .
Disc 1.2-1.4 times broader than long; maximum angle in front of
spiracles 112° (adult males) to 120° (juveniles and females); distance from
middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.1-1.2 times distance from tip of snout to
middle of vent; D (fins) separate. Snout length 2.6-3.5 times interorbital
distance . Upper jaw teeth in 39-44 rows (adults) , 30-31 rows (juveniles) .
66-69 pre dorsal caudal vertebrae.
Juveniles with 5 thorns around inner margin of orbit, 1 interspiracular
and 2 scapular thorns on each side; 1 median nuchal spine; 23-27 middorsal thorns from scapular region to 1st D origin, flanked laterally by
irregular series of smaller spines; 2-3 thorns in dorsal interspace; entire
upper surface of disc with fine spinules, except on outer rear edges; larger
spines on tip of snout and along front margins of disc.
Adults with 11-13 thorns around inner margin of orbit, 2 interspiracular
and 3 scapular thorns on each side ; 2-4 median nuchal spines, arranged in
double series; 4-5 irregular rows stellate-based thorns mid-dorsally from
scapular region to 1st D origin , diminishing to double series of slender,
recurved spines about halfway along tail , flanked laterally by a row of
smaller spines on each side, from rear edge of V to dorsal interspace;
lateral row of thorns along each side of tail; 4-8 thorns in dorsal interspace;
group ofthorns as stated in Key above and on front margins of disc; otherwise upper surface smooth.
Dorsally uniform brown, sometimes with scattered
darker patches on disc and tail (juveniles) or with irregular
lighter and darker areas (adults); ventrally white. Attains
55 cm TL, 35 cm DW. Known only from Liideritz to Durban
in about 260 - 620 m.
I
25.3 Cruriraja parcomaculata: 33 em wide (Algoa Bay).
25: RAJIDAE (SKATES)
25.4 Cruriraja triangularis
Smith,1964
Cruriraja triangularis Smith, 1964: 290, PI. 28 (off Durban) ; Wallace,
1967: 8*; Hulley, 1970: 156; 1972: 78.
Disc about 1.3 times broader than long; maximum angle in front of
spiracles about 90°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin about 1.3
times distance from tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) separate. Snout
pointed but not produced; its length 3.9 times interorbital distance. Upper
jaw teeth in 42-46 rows. 65-70 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 7-12 thorns
around inner margins of orbit and 1-2 interspiracular thorns; 1-5 median
nuchal spines; suprascapular spines absent; a mid-dorsal row of thorns
from abdominal region to 1st D origin, diminishing in size posteriorly and
flanked laterally by a dorsolateral rowan each side, from rear end of V to
1st D origin ; lateral row of thorns along each side of tail; 3-4 interdorsal
thorns; 2 rows of thorns along front half of rostrum ; otherwise smooth.
Dorsally uniform grey-brown, with dusky patches along
each side of midline; ventrally pale, rear margins of disc and
V darker. Attains 41 cm TL, 24 cm DW. Known only from
23°S (Mozambique) to Durban, in about 220 - 420 m.
25.4 Cruriraja triangularis: 15.5 cm wide female holotype; ventral view of pelvic
fins of paratype. 12 cm wide (both off Durban).
Genus Neoraja McEachran & Compagno, 1982
Snout angular to obtusely rounded, tip with short broad
process, front margin of disc nearly straight to strongly concave. Pelvic fins deeply incised, anterior lobes long, narrow
and bluntly to acutely pointed. Tail generally greater than
60% ofTL, with epicaudal and hypocaudallobes. Moderate
to small thorns along inner margin of orbits, over scapular
and nuchal region (but not forming distinct triangular patch),
along midline of disc in 1 or 3 distinct rows and along tail in 1
or 3 rows; upper surface of disc more or less evenly covered
with denticles.
McEachran & Campagna (1982) recognise 2 subgenera
(Neoraja, Fenestraja) with about 10 species; 1 species in our
area.
117