25.18 Raja robertsi
Hulley, 1970
Raja robertsi Hulley, 1970: 190, PI. 8, Fig. 12 (off Cape Town). Raja
(Amblyraja) robertsi: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.3 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of spiracles
about 96°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.9 in length from
tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) continuous. Snout length 2.4 times
interorbital distance. 42 rows of teeth in upper jaw. 55 predorsal caudal
vertebrae. 1 preorbital, 1 postorbital, 1 supraspiracular and 2 scapular
thorns on each side; 2 median nuchal thorns; 25 mid-dorsal thorns from
nuchal region almost to 1st D origin; lateral rows of thorns on disc and tail
absent; stellate-based spines on rostrum present; entire upper surface of
disc and tail with close-set spinules; ventral surface of disc and tail smooth.
Dorsally greyish, with a few scattered darker patches; V
somewhat darker; ventrally uniform grey to black, darker
at rear margins of P, tips of anterior V lobes and on tail,
white patches medially at level of P girdle, at mouth and
about nostrils. Probably attains 100 cm TL, 73 cm DW.
Known only from the type, taken west of Cape Town, in
1350m.
;
.- ' ... : ., .. '
.,
...
. ...
..,
~ . _.
25.18 Raja robertsi: 77 em TL holotype (off Cape Town). Dorsal and ventral
views.
25.19 Raja spinacidermis
Barnard, 1923
Roughskin skate
Ruwevel-rog
Raia spinacidermis Barnard, 1923: 440 (? off Cape Point); 1925: 73*;
Smith, SFSA No. 66. Raja spinacidermis: Hulley, 1970: 173*. Raja
(Malacoraja) spinacidermis: Hulley, 1972: 78*; Hulley & Stehmann,
1977: 227*.
Disc 1.2-1.4 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of orbits
107°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.1-1.3 in length from tip
of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) continuous. Snout length 3.7-4.2 times
25: RAJIDAE (SKATES)
interorbital distance. 54-60 rows of teeth in upper jaw. 63-65 predorsal
caudal vertebrae. Ventral surface naked, except for spinules on tip of
snout; front margins of disc and distal half of tail.
Dorsally pale slate grey, becoming darker on rear margins of disc and on V; ventrally uniform dark brown, except
for small white areas at corners of mouth, between gill slits,
at V axils and at base of tail. Juveniles with ventral surface
of disc predominantly white. Attains 64 cm TL, 45 cm DW.
Uncommon. Off west coast below about 900 m; also in deep
water on both sides of North Atlantic.
25.19 Raja spinacidermis: 45 em wide (off W. Cape coast). Dorsal and ventral
views.
25.20 Raja springeri
Wallace, 1967
Raja springeri Wallace, 1967: 18, Figs. 9-10 (ESE Durban). Raja (Dipturus) springeri: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.4 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of spiracles
about 85°; distance from front end of vent to 1st D origin 1.8-2.3 in length
from tip of snout to front vent; D (fins) separate. Snout length 4.8-5.1
times interorbital distance. 35-40 rows of teeth in upper jaw. 53-56 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 2-7 thorns above each orbit; 15 thorns mid-dorsally,
from above V to 1st D origin; 2 interdorsal thorns; upper surfaces of disc
and tail with scattered small asperities.
Dorsally and ventrally dark grey, ventral mucous pores
black. Attains 83 cm TL, 65 cm DW. Known only from 9
specimens taken between 23°S (Mozambique) and ESE of
Durban, in 400 - 740 m.
125
Hulley, 1970
Raja robertsi Hulley, 1970: 190, PI. 8, Fig. 12 (off Cape Town). Raja
(Amblyraja) robertsi: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.3 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of spiracles
about 96°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.9 in length from
tip of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) continuous. Snout length 2.4 times
interorbital distance. 42 rows of teeth in upper jaw. 55 predorsal caudal
vertebrae. 1 preorbital, 1 postorbital, 1 supraspiracular and 2 scapular
thorns on each side; 2 median nuchal thorns; 25 mid-dorsal thorns from
nuchal region almost to 1st D origin; lateral rows of thorns on disc and tail
absent; stellate-based spines on rostrum present; entire upper surface of
disc and tail with close-set spinules; ventral surface of disc and tail smooth.
Dorsally greyish, with a few scattered darker patches; V
somewhat darker; ventrally uniform grey to black, darker
at rear margins of P, tips of anterior V lobes and on tail,
white patches medially at level of P girdle, at mouth and
about nostrils. Probably attains 100 cm TL, 73 cm DW.
Known only from the type, taken west of Cape Town, in
1350m.
;
.- ' ... : ., .. '
.,
...
. ...
..,
~ . _.
25.18 Raja robertsi: 77 em TL holotype (off Cape Town). Dorsal and ventral
views.
25.19 Raja spinacidermis
Barnard, 1923
Roughskin skate
Ruwevel-rog
Raia spinacidermis Barnard, 1923: 440 (? off Cape Point); 1925: 73*;
Smith, SFSA No. 66. Raja spinacidermis: Hulley, 1970: 173*. Raja
(Malacoraja) spinacidermis: Hulley, 1972: 78*; Hulley & Stehmann,
1977: 227*.
Disc 1.2-1.4 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of orbits
107°; distance from middle of vent to 1st D origin 1.1-1.3 in length from tip
of snout to middle of vent; D (fins) continuous. Snout length 3.7-4.2 times
25: RAJIDAE (SKATES)
interorbital distance. 54-60 rows of teeth in upper jaw. 63-65 predorsal
caudal vertebrae. Ventral surface naked, except for spinules on tip of
snout; front margins of disc and distal half of tail.
Dorsally pale slate grey, becoming darker on rear margins of disc and on V; ventrally uniform dark brown, except
for small white areas at corners of mouth, between gill slits,
at V axils and at base of tail. Juveniles with ventral surface
of disc predominantly white. Attains 64 cm TL, 45 cm DW.
Uncommon. Off west coast below about 900 m; also in deep
water on both sides of North Atlantic.
25.19 Raja spinacidermis: 45 em wide (off W. Cape coast). Dorsal and ventral
views.
25.20 Raja springeri
Wallace, 1967
Raja springeri Wallace, 1967: 18, Figs. 9-10 (ESE Durban). Raja (Dipturus) springeri: Hulley, 1972: 77*.
Disc 1.4 times as broad as long; maximum angle in front of spiracles
about 85°; distance from front end of vent to 1st D origin 1.8-2.3 in length
from tip of snout to front vent; D (fins) separate. Snout length 4.8-5.1
times interorbital distance. 35-40 rows of teeth in upper jaw. 53-56 predorsal caudal vertebrae. 2-7 thorns above each orbit; 15 thorns mid-dorsally,
from above V to 1st D origin; 2 interdorsal thorns; upper surfaces of disc
and tail with scattered small asperities.
Dorsally and ventrally dark grey, ventral mucous pores
black. Attains 83 cm TL, 65 cm DW. Known only from 9
specimens taken between 23°S (Mozambique) and ESE of
Durban, in 400 - 740 m.
125