Brochiraja aenigma Last & McEachran, 2006

Family:  Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Max. size:  43.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range - 437 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  A species of Brochiraja with the following combination of characters: rounded disc; very long tail, 1.5 times disc length, 2.9 times ventral head length, 6.8 times snout length; orbit moderately large, 2.4 in preorbital snout length; calcified rostral shaft very short; tail base narrow, width at pelvic fin insertions 2 times width at midlength; dermal denticles closely spaced, over entire upper disc; mid-dorsal surface of tail with thorns and denticles; dorsolateral surface of tail without thorns; orbital thorns absent; entire ventral surface naked; medium brownish with darker mottling above and below; indistinct rows of pale-edged pores on ventral surface; nuchal pore band indistinct; anterior pelvic fin lobe bulbous, black tipped; total pectoral radials 73-74; predorsal vertebrae 115; c. 30 tooth rows in upper jaw (Ref. 58023).
Biology:  Known only from a single specimen; no information on mature males or juveniles (Ref. 58023).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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