Cruriraja ‘triangularis’ (Triangular legskate)

Smith, 1964 (= C. parcomaculata)

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

Cruriraja ‘triangularis’ (Triangular legskate) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A legskate with large thorns on snout, around eyes, on shoulders, and in a single interrupted row on nape and from midback to 1st dorsal fin. Pectoral disk more angular than other legskates. Colour grey-brown above, with darker spots or patches along midline, young more conspicuously spotted than adults; pale below, no tail bands, large thorns not conspicuously whitish.

Size

To 41 cm TL and 24 cm DW.

Range

East coast, Durban to southern Mozambique. Endemic.

Habitat

Uppermost slope on mud bottom at 220 to 675 m.

Biology

Virtually unknown but apparently very common off Natal. Human Impact Probably caught by offshore trawlers off Natal.

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