Bathyraja smithii (African softnose skate)

(Müller & Henle, 1841)

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

Bathyraja smithii (African softnose skate) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A large grey deepwater softnose skate with a broadly triangular, bluntly pointed snout, angular pectoral disk, no large thorns on upper disk in larger individuals (present in young but lost with growth), tail shorter than body and with a single row of large thorns. Colour almost uniform medium grey to whitish grey above, sometimes with white spots, lower surface white with dark grey blotches around gill slits and vent and along the ventral surface of tail, no bars on tail.

Size

To 1.2 m TL and 85 cm DW.

Range

West coast, Walvis Bay to Agulhas Bank. Endemic.

Habitat

Upper slope on bottom at depths of 440 to 1020 m.

Biology

A common, formidible bottom predator, eats bony fishes including hake, jacopever, barracudina, and dragonet, also squid, octopi, crabs, and prawns.

Human Impact

Occasionally caught by hake trawlers.

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