Common Name
Leafnose Legskate
Year Described
Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951
Identification
Disk broad and spade-shaped, with a very long snout (21-22% TL). The snout tip is filamentous, with unique flap-like expansions on either side of the base. Pectoral fin origin at about half snout length. Eyes close together. Mouth slightly arched with 22-26 rows of teeth. Pelvic fins divided into anterior and posterior sections; the anterior part long and limb-like and the posterior part small and attached to the pectoral fin. Very slender tail lacks dorsal fins and lateral folds, has a small caudal fin (divided by vertebral column), and is 50-52% of TL. Body naked except for small alar patch in males.
Color
Gray to greenish-gray, with reddish pigment along the pectoral edges and along snout and rostral filament. Area on either side of rostrum fairly translucent. Belly is pale gray.
Size
Maximum size is 58cm TL for males and 62cmm TL for females.
Habitat
Captured at 300-512m over soft bottoms.
Range
Northern Gulf of Mexico
References
Last, P.R., White, W.T., Carvalho, M.R. de, Séret, B., Stehmann, M.F.W & Naylor, G.J.P (Eds.). 2016. Rays of the World. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
McEachran, J.D. & J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.