Anacanthobatis marmoratus (Smooth legskate)

(von Bonde & Swart, 1924)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Batoidei > Rajoidei > Rajidae > Anacanthobatidae

Anacanthobatis marmoratus (Smooth legskate) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A smooth-skinned, brown-spotted legskate with a short slender tail less than body length and without dorsal fins. Snout angular with a tiny filament, pectoral disk with rounded corners. No large thorns or denticles except for alar spines of males. Colour mottled light brown and white above, white below.

Size

Possibly the smallest southern African skate, to 25 cm. TL.

Range

East coast, Durban to southern Mozambique. Endemic.

Habitat

Upper slope on bottom at 230 to 322 m.

Biology

Virtually unknown. Uncommon, more specimens wanted.

Human Impact

Trawled off Natal and Mozambique.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale