Fine-spotted Skate

description

Description. The following data are provided for holotype, followed by the value of paratype in parentheses. Disc quadrangular, length 78.1 % (75.4 %) width; angle in front of spiracles 70 ° (64 °); axis of greatest width 60.4 % (48.4 %) of disc length; anterior margin double concave, moderately concave anteriorly to the snout tip, convex besides eyes, considerably concave besides and posterior to spiracles; apex very narrowly rounded; posterior margin slightly convex; free rear tip rounded. Details of dorsal and ventral view of head are shown in Fig. 3. Head rather short, preorbital snout length 59.0 % (43.9 %) head length, distance between orbits 13.4 % (13.9 %) head length; pre-upper jaw length 52.2 % (42.1 %) ventral head length. Snout tip produced and very narrowly pointed; fleshy process absent at tip. Distance between orbits 81.2 % (76.9 %) orbit diameter. Spiracle medium-sized, length 58.9 % (60.0 %) orbit diameter; its opening in distorted teardrop-shape. Nostril suboval; anterior nasal flap somewhat expanded, lobelike, partly covered beneath nasal curtain; posterior inner margin fully covered by nasal curtain; posterior lobes forming nasal curtain, produced posterolateral

Okamejei picta sp. nov., a new rajid skate from the South China Sea (Rajiformes Rajidae)

description

Figs. 1 – 9, Tables 1 – 2 urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 5 CD 9 D 2 D 9 - 582 C- 4 A 97 - 9 BA 3 - E 5 AEE 6 AE 2297

Okamejei picta sp. nov., a new rajid skate from the South China Sea (Rajiformes Rajidae)

description

Size. The types are both mature males (to 429 mm TL) and no information on females, juveniles and egg cases. Females presumably attain larger sizes.

Okamejei picta sp. nov., a new rajid skate from the South China Sea (Rajiformes Rajidae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A medium-sized species of Okamejei (~ 429 mm TL) with yellowish brown dorsal surface, densely mottled with small black circular to irregular spots; pale blotches present but indistinct; absence of prominent pair of pectoral markings and posterior ocellus; ventral surface entirely whitish; ventral sensory pores dark edged; and the following combination of characters: disc width 57.6 – 63.2 % TL, disc length 75.4 – 78.1 % disc width; tail long, length 116 – 118 % distance from snout tip to rear of cloaca; tail very slender, height 80.0 – 84.4 % width at its midlength; snout narrow and pointed, preorbital snout length 22.8 – 32.1 % disc length; first dorsal-fin base length 20.9 – 25.0 % distance from first dorsal-fin origin to tail tip; tip of clasper without component funnel; nuchal thorn small; total pectoral radials 73 – 76; trunk centra 27 – 31; total centra 123 – 126.

Okamejei picta sp. nov., a new rajid skate from the South China Sea (Rajiformes Rajidae)