| Deepwater ray | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Rajidae |
| Genus: | Rajella |
| Species: | R. bathyphila |
| Binomial name | |
| Rajella bathyphila | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
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]
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]
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]
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]
The deepwater ray is oviparous. The eggs have horn-like projections on the shell. Paired eggs are laid, with embryos feed solely on yolk.
Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. More than 150 species have been described, in 17 genera. Softnose skates and pygmy skates were previously treated as subfamilies of Rajidae, but are now considered as distinct families. Alternatively, the name "skate" is used to refer to the entire order of Rajiformes.
Rajiformes is one of the four orders in the superorder Batoidea, flattened cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. Rajiforms are distinguished by the presence of greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which reach as far forward as the sides of the head, with a generally flattened body. The undulatory pectoral fin motion diagnostic to this taxon is known as rajiform locomotion. The eyes and spiracles are located on the upper surface of the head and the gill slits are on the underside of the body. Most species give birth to live young, although some lay eggs enclosed in a horny capsule.
Carcharias is a genus of sand tiger sharks belonging to the family Odontaspididae. Once bearing many prehistoric species, all have gone extinct with the exception of the critically endangered sand tiger shark.
Rhinopristiformes is an order of rays, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks, containing shovelnose rays and allied groups.
The short beard codling is a species of marine bony fish in the family Moridae. Native to the western Atlantic Ocean, it is found on the continental slope at depths between 50 and 1,620 m.
Marsha's lanternshark is a species of shark in the family Etmopteridae. It is found in the Western Pacific near the Philippines and can reach 23.4 cm in length.
The sandy ray or sandy skate is a species of ray in the family Rajidae.
The blonde ray or blonde skate is a species of ray fish in the family Rajidae.
The spotted ray or spotted skate is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.
The Jeffrey's goby is a species of goby fish.
Scopelogadus beanii, or Bean's bigscale, is a species of ridgehead fish. It is named for Tarleton Hoffman Bean.
The blackfin waryfish is a species of fish in the family Notosudidae (waryfish).
The black seasnail is a species of fish in the family Liparidae (snailfish).
Cataetyx alleni, sometimes called Allen's brotula, is a species of fish in the family Bythitidae.
Schnakenbeck's searsid is a species of fish in the family Platytroctidae (tubeshoulders).
The Arctic rockling, also called the silver rockling or Arctic threebeard, is a species of fish in the family Lotidae.
Sudis hyalina is a species of fish in the family Paralepididae (barracudinas).
Bigelow's ray, also called the chocolate skate or Bigelow's skate, is a species of skate in the family Rajidae. It is named in honour of the oceanographer Henry Bryant Bigelow.
Stomias boa ferox is a subspecies of deep-sea fish in the family Stomiidae.
Rajella fyllae is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.
Data related to Rajella bathyphila at Wikispecies