The deepwater ray (Rajella bathyphila), also called the deepwater skate or abyssal skate,[3][4] is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.[5][6][7][8]
| Deepwater ray | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Superorder: | Batoidea |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Rajella |
| Species: | R. bathyphila
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rajella bathyphila | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Distribution edit
The deepwater ray is bathydemersal; it has been recorded at 600–2,300 m (2,000–7,500 ft), mostly below 1,300–1,400 m (4,300–4,600 ft). It has been found in seas worldwide, concentrated in the North Atlantic, living on continental slopes and abyssal plains.[9][10]
Description edit
Like all rays, the deepwater ray has a flattened body with broad, wing-like pectoral fins. The dorsal surface of adults is white.[11] The outer edges of pectoral and pelvic fins shade to darker.[9] The upper surface is spinulose, but there are bare patches in the centre of the pectoral fins and on sides of body in adult males.[12]
Its maximum length is 90 cm (3.0 ft).[9]
Behaviour edit
Juveniles feed on small benthic invertebrates, while larger deepwater rays feed on larger invertebrates and fish.[13] It is parasitised by Echeneibothrium bathyphilum, a cestode tapeworm of the order Rhinebothriidea.[14]
Life cycle edit
The deepwater ray is oviparous. The eggs have horn-like projections on the shell. Paired eggs are laid, with embryos feed solely on yolk.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Stehmann, M. (December 1, 2008). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rajella bathyphila". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – via www.iucnredlist.org.
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Rajella bathyphila (Holt & Byrne, 1908)". www.marinespecies.org.
- ^ Coad, Brian W.; Reist, James D. (January 1, 2018). Marine Fishes of Arctic Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9781442647107 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Rajella bathyphila | Shark-References". shark-references.com.
- ^ "Taxonomy browser (Rajella bathyphila)". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- ^ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org.
- ^ Last, Peter; Naylor, Gavin; Séret, Bernard; White, William; Stehmann, Matthias; Carvalho, Marcelo de (December 1, 2016). Rays of the World. Csiro Publishing. ISBN 9780643109155 – via Google Books.
- ^ Ebert, David A.; Sulikowski, James (December 25, 2008). Biology of Skates. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781402097034 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "Rajella bathyphila, Deep-water ray". www.fishbase.se.
- ^ Carrier, Jeffrey C.; Musick, John A.; Heithaus, Michael R. (March 9, 2010). Sharks and Their Relatives II: Biodiversity, Adaptive Physiology, and Conservation. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420080483 – via Google Books.
- ^ Ebert, David A.; Dando, Marc (December 8, 2020). Field Guide to Sharks, Rays & Chimaeras of Europe and the Mediterranean. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691211824 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Marine Species Identification Portal : Deepwater ray - Raja bathyphila". species-identification.org.
- ^ "Species: Rajella bathyphila (Deep-water skate) Justification". shkola.of.by. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Rajella bathyphila (Holt & Byrne, 1908)". www.marinespecies.org.
External links edit
Data related to Rajella bathyphila at Wikispecies
