Argentine Skate

description

Barcode sequence. A 651 base pair amplicon from the 5´region of the mitochondrial COI gene was bidirectionally sequenced for the holotype and six paratypes (GenBank accession numbers EU 074410, EU 074405, EU 074406, EU 074407, EU 074408, EU 074409, EU 074411, respectively). The holotype and five of the paratype sequences were virtually identical, while the seventh differed by only a single nucleotide (0.146 % sequence divergence). The mtDNA COI barcode profile of the holotype is reported herein as an aspect of the type description: CCTTTACTTAATTTTTGGTGCCTGAGCAGGCATGGTCGGGACTGGCCTAAGTCTTTTAATCCGAGC AGAACTAAGTCAACCCGGGACCCTCCTGGGTGACGATCAGATTTATAATGTCATTGTTACAGCCCA TGCCTTTGTAATAATCTTTTTTATGGTTATACCAATTATAATCGGCGGGTTTGGTAATTGACTCGTCC CTTTAATAATTGGCTCCCCCGACATGGCCTTCCCACGCATAAATAACATAAGTTTCTGACTTTTACC CCCCTCTTTTCTCCTCCTCCTGGCCTCCGCTGGAGTTGAGGCCGGGGCCGGAACAGGTTGAACTG TCTACCCCCCTCTGGCAGGAAATCTGGCCCACGCGGGGGCCTCCGTAGACTTAACAATTTTCTCT CTTCACTTGGCAGGTGTTTCATCTATTCTAGCCTCCATTAACTTCATCACCACAATTATTAACATAA AACCACCAGCAATCTCTCAATACCAGACACCCTTATTCGTGTGATCAATTCTTGTTACAACTGTTTT ACTTCTTATGGCCCTCCCAGTTCTAGCAGCCGGCATCACTATACTACTCACGGACCGTAATCTCAA CACAACTTTCTTTGACCCGGCTGGAGGGGGCGACCCCATTCTATACCAACACTT D

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of longnose skate (Rajiformes: Rajidae: Dipturus) from Argentinean waters based on DNA barcoding

description

Description. Measurements and counts are given in Table 1. Differing values of the paratypes following those for the holotype are in parentheses. Disc rhombic, 1.24 times as broad as long (1.22 - 1.27); snout greatly elongated, 4.35 times in total length (4.54 to 5.26); Anterior margin of disc concave and posterior margin convex with rounded inner corner to level of pelvic fins. Orbit length 0.62 times (0.5 – 0.66) of interorbital length and 1.09 times spiracle length (1.14 – 1.58). Distance between spiracles 1.18 times that between orbits (1.16 – 1.36). Preorbital length 4.49 times (3.88 to 4.33) interorbital width. Tail very slender and relatively long with a thin lateral tail fold. Its length from center of cloaca to tip 0.82 times that from tip of snout to center of cloaca (0.84 to 0.95). Space between dorsal fins, 0.28 times (0.19 – 0.38) base of first dorsal fin. Height of dorsal fins greater than half their bases’ lengths. Preoral length 2.79 times mouth width (2.36 to 2.75). Preorbital length 7.29 times orbit length (6.24 to 7.88). Nostril flaps are short, thick and tube - like. Anterior nasal flap (nasal curtain) well developed and fringed along distal margin. Posterior na

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of longnose skate (Rajiformes: Rajidae: Dipturus) from Argentinean waters based on DNA barcoding

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Dipturus argentinensis is characterized by the combination of the following characters: dorsal surface of disc brown purplish with no distinct ocelli or blotches margined with dark brown on pectoral and pelvic fins. Upper surface of disc smooth except few small spinules scattered on tip of snout. Ocular thorns present, with scapular thorns absent. A single nuchal thorn either present or absent. One median row of 10 to 24 small caudal thorns. Dorsal and caudal fins scattered with very few spinules. One or two interdorsal thorns. Relatively long and thin tail, approximately half the total length. Ventral surface of disc as dark as the upper side, smooth except few small spinules scattered on tip of snout. Interbranchial space with no prickles.

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of longnose skate (Rajiformes: Rajidae: Dipturus) from Argentinean waters based on DNA barcoding

etymology

Etymology. The specific epitet argentinensis is named in reference to the Argentine Sea where the type material was collected. Common name. New English name: Argentine Skate; new Spanish name: Raya hocicuda de cola larga.

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of longnose skate (Rajiformes: Rajidae: Dipturus) from Argentinean waters based on DNA barcoding