Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: Neoraja: Greek, neos = new + Latin, raja = fish, Raja sp. (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Matthias F W Stehmann (d: 1943) is a German ichthyologist whose university career at Kiel University (1962–1969) resulted in degrees covering marine sciences, zoology and limnology and culminated with a doctorate in marine sciences. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 102 - 1025 m (Ref. 5578). Deep-water; 29°S - 40°S
Southeast Atlantic: off the Orange River mouth to south of the Agulhas Bank, South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 37.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 106604)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
A dwarf softnose skate with a bluntly pointed snout and very large close-set eyes; tail longer than body in adult; pectoral disc angular with rounded corners, and anterior edges more undulated in adult male than in female; large thorns around eyes, on shoulders, and in interrupted single row from back to dorsal fins (Ref. 5578). Brownish-grey above, with 6-7 crossbars on tail; underside pale with dark brown areas along the front and rear edges of disc, on snout and on underside of tail (Ref. 5578).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Found on the upper slope (Ref. 5578). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Probably taken by hake trawlers (Ref. 5578).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn, 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290. (Ref. 27314)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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