Breviraja spinosa Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950
Spinose skate
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  23.6 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 323 - 675 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: South Carolina to Florida, USA (Ref. 114953). Gulf of Mexico to Nicaragua and off Suriname.
Diagnosis:  Irregular rows of thorns along the midbelt of disc. First and second dorsal fins are confluent. Upper surface light brown with a few whitish blotches. Lower surface plain whitish (Ref. 6902).
Biology:  Deep water species (Ref. 6902). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Males reaches maturity at ca. 25 cm TL, females at ca. 29 cm TL; size at birth unknown (Ref. 114953).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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