Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: Sympterygia: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, pteryx = fin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cope.
Issue
Four nominal species of Psammobatis (asper, caudispina, chilcae, maculatus), all from Hildebrand, 1946, are considered valid in Eschmeyer (CofF ver. May 2011: Ref. 86870) following Chirichigno & Vélez (1998), but J. McEachran confirmed their synonym status of Sympterygia brevicaudata (Cope, 1877) (pers. comm., 11/2003).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 18 m (Ref. 58018). Subtropical; 3°S - 37°S
Southeast Pacific: Ecuador to central Chile. Two specimens have been recorded from Uruguay but these may be in error.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 38.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. )
Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205). Max. length (Johnny Labbe, pers. comm., 2000).
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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