Dentiraja lemprieri (Richardson, 1845)
Thornback skate
Dentiraja lemprieri
photo by Günther, A.C.L.G.

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  55 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 170 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean to southwest Pacific: endemic to Australia.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Occur on soft bottoms of the continental shelf (Ref. 7300, 75154). Feed on benthic fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 6871). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 4.4-6.3 cm long and 3.2-3.8 wide (Ref. 41308). Males reaches maturity at ca. 39 cm TL, females at ca. 42 cm TL; young hatch at ca. 10 cm TL (Ref. 114953).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 May 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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