Anacanthobatis marmorata (von Bonde & Swart, 1923)
Spotted legskate
Anacanthobatis marmorata
photo by Ramjohn, D.D.

Family:  Anacanthobatidae (Smooth skates)
Max. size:  29 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 230 - 322 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: known only from southern Mozambique to Durban, South Africa.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0. A brown-spotted legskate with smooth skin and a short slender tail less than body length; snout angular with tiny filament; pectoral disc with rounded corners; no large thorns on denticles except for alar spines on adult males (Ref. 5578). Legskates have pelvic fins separated into a mobile leg-like front lobe, and a rear lobe that may be fused to the tail base (Ref. 5578). Mottled brown and white with scattered ocelli dorsally; uniform pale ventrally (Ref. 6510). Papillae and rostral filament dark brown (Ref. 6510).
Biology:  Possibly the smallest southern African skate (Ref. 5578). Found on the upper slope (Ref. 5578).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 01 August 2019 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.