New Zealand rough skate
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The New Zealand rough skate (Dipturus nasutus) is a skate of the genus Dipturus, found around New Zealand at depths of between 10 and 1,500 metres. Their length is up to 1 metre.
The New Zealand rough skate is a large deepwater ray of approximate diamond shape with elongate pointed snout, and a prickly skin on the upper surfaces particularly noticeable on the wingtips.
The upper surface is a uniform brown with a few large white spots and darker marbling, and the underside is white. A conspicuous ocellus may be present on each side of the disk. There are three rows of spines on the broad tail.
The New Zealand rough skate is similar to the New Zealand smooth skate (Dipturus innominatus), except that its tail is noticeably broader and the two dorsal fins at its tip are larger. It is also found in shallower water, often on muddy bottoms on coastal areas of the continental shelf.
While often caught in trawl nets and by anglers it is not popular as an eating fish.
A horny egg case is anchored to the bottom by long coiled tendrils at each corner, the young taking several months to hatch.
References
- Francis (2003). [Dipturus nasutus]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- "[Dipturus nasutus]." FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
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