Neoraja stehmanni (Hulley, 1972)
African pygmy skate

Family:  Rajidae (Skates)
Max. size:  37.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 102 - 1025 m
Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: off the Orange River mouth to south of the Agulhas Bank, South Africa.
Diagnosis:  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).
Biology:  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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 April 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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