Common Name
Spinytail Skate
Year Described
Jensen, 1914
Identification
Nuchal median thorns: none
Tail median thorns: 21-26
Disk diamond shaped with skin quite rough with denticles. Median thorn row restricted to tail. Tail median thorn row flanked with lateral finfolds and scattered large denticles. Snout long, with slightly concave anterior margins. Anterior margin of pectoral fins concave. Ocular and scapular thorns absent. Alar thorns in a curved band. Usually a single interdorsal thorn. Dorsal fins very close together. Pelvic fins strongly notched. Tail shorter than disk. Claspers long and slender. Teeth are conical and sharp (33).
Color
Dorsum uniformly pale brown to grey, without any markings. Ventrum white with grayish disk edges and blotches.
Size
Maximum size to 182cm TL.
Habitat
A mainly deepwater species found between 140-1650m on soft bottoms.
Range
Northwestern Atlantic: Greenland and Arctic Canada to New England, including offshore seamounts.
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.
Other Notes
The only described species of Bathyraja from the cold northwestern Atlantic besides the very different looking, robust B. richardsoni. The similar B. pallida from the northeastern Atlantic may eventually be discovered on deep seamounts in the region.