Deepwater ray explained

The deepwater ray (Rajella bathyphila), also called the deepwater skate or abyssal skate,[1] [2] is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Distribution

The deepwater ray is bathydemersal; it has been recorded at, mostly below . It has been found in seas worldwide, concentrated in the North Atlantic, living on continental slopes and abyssal plains.[7] [8]

Description

Like all rays, the deepwater ray has a flattened body with broad, wing-like pectoral fins. The dorsal surface of adults is white.[9] The outer edges of pectoral and pelvic fins shade to darker.[7] 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.[10]

Its maximum length is .[7]

Behaviour

Juveniles feed on small benthic invertebrates, while larger deepwater rays feed on larger invertebrates and fish.[11] It is parasitised by Echeneibothrium bathyphilum, a cestode tapeworm of the order Rhinebothriidea.[12]

Life cycle

The deepwater ray is oviparous. The eggs have horn-like projections on the shell. Paired eggs are laid, with embryos feed solely on yolk.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Marine Fishes of Arctic Canada. Brian W.. Coad. James D.. Reist. January 1, 2018. University of Toronto Press. 9781442647107. Google Books.
  2. Web site: Rajella bathyphila | Shark-References. shark-references.com.
  3. Web site: Taxonomy browser (Rajella bathyphila). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
  4. Web site: Mindat.org. www.mindat.org.
  5. Book: Rays of the World. Peter. Last. Gavin. Naylor. Bernard. Séret. William. White. Matthias. Stehmann. Marcelo de. Carvalho. December 1, 2016. Csiro Publishing. 9780643109155. Google Books.
  6. Book: Biology of Skates. David A.. Ebert. James. Sulikowski. December 25, 2008. Springer Science & Business Media. 9781402097034. Google Books.
  7. Web site: Rajella bathyphila, Deep-water ray. www.fishbase.se.
  8. Book: Sharks and Their Relatives II: Biodiversity, Adaptive Physiology, and Conservation. Jeffrey C.. Carrier. John A.. Musick. Michael R.. Heithaus. March 9, 2010. CRC Press. 9781420080483. Google Books.
  9. Book: Field Guide to Sharks, Rays & Chimaeras of Europe and the Mediterranean. David A.. Ebert. Marc. Dando. December 8, 2020. Princeton University Press. 9780691211824. Google Books.
  10. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Deepwater ray - Raja bathyphila. species-identification.org.
  11. Web site: Species: Rajella bathyphila (Deep-water skate) Justification. shkola.of.by. 2021-10-23. 2021-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023175451/https://shkola.of.by/species-rajella-bathyphila-deep-water-skate-justification.html. dead.
  12. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Rajella bathyphila (Holt & Byrne, 1908). www.marinespecies.org.

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