Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Arhynchobatidae (Softnose skates)
Etymology: Bathyraja: Greek, bathys = deep + Latin, raja, -ae = a ray (Raja sp) (Ref. 45335); cousseauae: Named for María Berta Cousseau of Dept. de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.
Eponymy: Dr Maria Berta Cousseau is an Argentine ichthyologist who is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 119 - 284 m (Ref. 55502). Subtropical
Southwestern Atlantic: Off northern Patagonian, off Mar del Plata, Argentina. Southeast Pacific: Chile.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 86.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55502)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished by having the following characters: a large and very distinct round pale area ocellus-like, margined with dark brown on posterior part of each pectoral base of the upper side of the disc; upper surface of disc fully covered with numerous small spinules, also on interorbital area, tail, dorsal fins, and posterior pelvic lobes; larger individuals with scattered spinules distributed in central parts of the disc; ocular thorns absent; continuous row of 21-27 median thorns from nuchal; region to first dorsal fin; males have elongated, slender rod-shaped claspers; dorsal fin densely spinulose close to the end of tail and with no space between them (Ref. 55502).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Díaz de Astarloa, J.M. and E. Mabragaña, 2004. Bathyraja cousseauae sp. n.: a new softnose skate from the southwestern Atlantic (Rajiformes, Rajidae). Copeia 2004(2):326-335. (Ref. 55502)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 4.5 - 6.4, mean 5.8 °C (based on 37 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00550 (0.00291 - 0.01038), b=3.13 (2.97 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).
