Amblyraja jenseni (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)
Shorttail skate
Amblyraja jenseni
photo by Orlov, A.

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  74.25 cm TL (male/unsexed); 85 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 165 - 3000 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to southern New England, USA; Eastern Atlantic: Iceland (Ref. 12462); North Atlantic: Labrador Sea and off British Isles (Ref. 114953)
Diagnosis:  Lacks large thorns on anterior margins and mid posterior parts of pectorals and on either side of mid-dorsal ridge on the disc. Upper surface plain light brown, either grayish or of chocolate hue, darker along margins of fins. Lower surface brownish gray, grayish white or perhaps pure white (Ref. 6902).
Biology:  Benthic (Ref. 58426). Deep-water species. Prefers higher temperatures. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 6902). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 117245. It may be captured as by-catch in deep water fisheries, but due to its depth preference, it is less likely to be vulnerable (Ref. 117245).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 July 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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