25: RAJIDAE (SKATES)
each side; 1 median nuchal thorn; 8-12 mid-dorsal thorns, from above vent
to 1st D origin; 1 interdorsal thorn; otherwise smooth. Adults with 5-8
thorns around inner margin of orbit; 1 (sometimes 2) median nuchal
thorn; 10-12 mid-dorsal thorns from above vent to 1st D origin; 1-2 interdorsal thorns; otherwise upper surface smooth, but lower surface with
spinules on tip of snout, front margins of disc and internasal area.
Dorsally light brown to biscuit, sometimes darker, with
numerous small darker spots and blotches; ventrally
greyish, mucous pores black. Attains more than 125 cm TL,
94+ cm OW. Known only from Liideritz to 23°S (Mozambique) in 50 - 450 m.
25.16 Raja radiata
Donovan, 1808
Raja radiata Donovan, 1808: 1, Pl. 114 (north coast of Britain); Hulley,
1970: 193*. Raja (Amhlyraja) radiata: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.2-1.3 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of
spiracles about 100°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.8-1. 9
in length from tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) separate. Snout
obtuse, its length 2.1-2.4 times interorbital distance. 37-39 rows ofteeth in
upper jaw. 58-62 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 1 preorbital, 1 postorbital, 1
supraspiracular and 2-3 scapular thorns on each side; 2 median nuchal
thorns; 11-19 mid-dorsal thorns on radiate bases from nuchal region to 1st
D origin, flanked on each side by 2-3 irregular rows of thorns on stellate
bases; small interdorsal spines; thorns present on rostrum, interorbital
and interspiracular regions and on sides of tail, and scattered thorns and
spines on P; ventral surfaces of disc and tail smooth.
Dorsally brownish grey, with scattered irregular black
blotches; ventrally white, with darker spots and blotches on
tail and V, and black spot on tail tip. Attains 100 cm TL, 77
cm OW. Off west coast, in about 550 - 650 m. Common in
20 - 1 000 m in eastern and western North Atlantic, southwards to latitude of English Channel and Nova Scotia respectively.
25.16 Raja radiata: 12 em wide (Canada).
124
25.17 Raja ravidula
Hulley, 1970
Raja ravidula Hulley, 1970: 196, Pl. 9, Fig. 14 (33°49'S, In3'E). Raja
(Rajella) ravidula: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.1-1.2 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of spiracles
about 92°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.2-1.3 in length
from tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) usually continuous. Snout
length 4.3-4.8 times interorbital distance. 39-44 rows of teeth in upper
jaw. 69-70 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 3-4 preorbital, 3 postorbital, 1 suprascapular, 0-1 interspiracular, 0-3 scapular and 4-5 lateral nuchal thorns
on each side; 6 median nuchal thorns; single series of thorns on each side
of midline, from nuchal region to 1st D origin; entire dorsal surface of disc
with blunt, widely spaced asperities, larger and more pointed on tail;
ventral surfaces of disc and tail smooth.
Dorsally pale grey, becoming darker along rear margins
of disc and V and at distal end of tail; ventrally white, but
darker at margins of disc, at V axils, on distal end of anterior
V lobe and at front of vent, tail greyish brown, mottled posteriorly. Attains more than 63 cm TL, 36 cm OW. Known
only from 3 specimens taken off Cape Town in 1 000 m;
Stehmann (1981) suggests its occurrence in the eastern tropical Atlantic.
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25.17 Raja ravidula: 36 em wide holotype (off Cape Town). Dorsal and ventral
views.
each side; 1 median nuchal thorn; 8-12 mid-dorsal thorns, from above vent
to 1st D origin; 1 interdorsal thorn; otherwise smooth. Adults with 5-8
thorns around inner margin of orbit; 1 (sometimes 2) median nuchal
thorn; 10-12 mid-dorsal thorns from above vent to 1st D origin; 1-2 interdorsal thorns; otherwise upper surface smooth, but lower surface with
spinules on tip of snout, front margins of disc and internasal area.
Dorsally light brown to biscuit, sometimes darker, with
numerous small darker spots and blotches; ventrally
greyish, mucous pores black. Attains more than 125 cm TL,
94+ cm OW. Known only from Liideritz to 23°S (Mozambique) in 50 - 450 m.
25.16 Raja radiata
Donovan, 1808
Raja radiata Donovan, 1808: 1, Pl. 114 (north coast of Britain); Hulley,
1970: 193*. Raja (Amhlyraja) radiata: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.2-1.3 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of
spiracles about 100°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.8-1. 9
in length from tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) separate. Snout
obtuse, its length 2.1-2.4 times interorbital distance. 37-39 rows ofteeth in
upper jaw. 58-62 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 1 preorbital, 1 postorbital, 1
supraspiracular and 2-3 scapular thorns on each side; 2 median nuchal
thorns; 11-19 mid-dorsal thorns on radiate bases from nuchal region to 1st
D origin, flanked on each side by 2-3 irregular rows of thorns on stellate
bases; small interdorsal spines; thorns present on rostrum, interorbital
and interspiracular regions and on sides of tail, and scattered thorns and
spines on P; ventral surfaces of disc and tail smooth.
Dorsally brownish grey, with scattered irregular black
blotches; ventrally white, with darker spots and blotches on
tail and V, and black spot on tail tip. Attains 100 cm TL, 77
cm OW. Off west coast, in about 550 - 650 m. Common in
20 - 1 000 m in eastern and western North Atlantic, southwards to latitude of English Channel and Nova Scotia respectively.
25.16 Raja radiata: 12 em wide (Canada).
124
25.17 Raja ravidula
Hulley, 1970
Raja ravidula Hulley, 1970: 196, Pl. 9, Fig. 14 (33°49'S, In3'E). Raja
(Rajella) ravidula: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.1-1.2 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of spiracles
about 92°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.2-1.3 in length
from tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) usually continuous. Snout
length 4.3-4.8 times interorbital distance. 39-44 rows of teeth in upper
jaw. 69-70 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 3-4 preorbital, 3 postorbital, 1 suprascapular, 0-1 interspiracular, 0-3 scapular and 4-5 lateral nuchal thorns
on each side; 6 median nuchal thorns; single series of thorns on each side
of midline, from nuchal region to 1st D origin; entire dorsal surface of disc
with blunt, widely spaced asperities, larger and more pointed on tail;
ventral surfaces of disc and tail smooth.
Dorsally pale grey, becoming darker along rear margins
of disc and V and at distal end of tail; ventrally white, but
darker at margins of disc, at V axils, on distal end of anterior
V lobe and at front of vent, tail greyish brown, mottled posteriorly. Attains more than 63 cm TL, 36 cm OW. Known
only from 3 specimens taken off Cape Town in 1 000 m;
Stehmann (1981) suggests its occurrence in the eastern tropical Atlantic.
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25.17 Raja ravidula: 36 em wide holotype (off Cape Town). Dorsal and ventral
views.