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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Deep-water

African pygmy skate

Neoraja stehmanni Hulley, 1972
Max Length
37.6 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.7
Depth
102–1025 m
Climate
Deep-water
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
deep-water

📖 Overview

Found on the upper slope . Oviparous . Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell . Probably taken by hake trawlers .

Scientific Name
Neoraja stehmanni
Authority
Hulley, 1972
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Deep-water
Body Shape
Other
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
37.6 cm
Depth Range
102–1025 m
Trophic Level
3.7
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Elasmobranchii
Elasmobranchii
Order
Rajiformes
Rajiformes
Family
Rajidae
Rajidae
Genus
Neoraja
Neoraja
Species
African pygmy skate
Neoraja stehmanni

🐟 Physical Description

A dwarf softnose skate with a bluntly pointed snout and very large close-set eyes; tail longer than body in adult; pectoral disc angular with rounded corners, and anterior edges more undulated in adult male than in female; large thorns around eyes, on shoulders, and in interrupted single row from back to dorsal fins . Brownish-grey above, with 6-7 crossbars on tail; underside pale with dark brown areas along the front and rear edges of disc, on snout and on underside of tail .: other.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for African pygmy skate is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for African pygmy skate is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 102 - 1025 m . Deep-water; 29°S - 40°S Southeast Atlantic: off the Orange River mouth to south of the Agulhas Bank, South Africa.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌑 Deep Water
Trophic Level
3.7±0.6

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00631 × L3.27 (TL)
Max TL
37.6cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
33.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.7
Predator
Body Shape
Other
Climate Zone
Deep-water
Described By
Hulley, 1972

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Breviraja stehmanni Hulley 1972 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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