Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 75 - ? m (Ref. 114953). Subtropical; 17°S - 36°S, 10°E - 34°E (Ref. 114953)
Southeast Atlantic: Namibia to central Natal, South Africa. Record from Madagascar is uncertain (Ref. 3919).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 140 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3919)
Found from the surf line to about 70 m depth (Ref. 5578), also reported as common in shallow waters to at least 75 m depth (Ref. 114953); also enters estuaries (Ref. 27121). Feeds on crustaceans, bivalves, polychaete worms and small bony fishes (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Males mature at ca. 59 cm TL, females at 62-65 cm TL; born at ca. 23 cm TL. Produces litters of 2-10 pups (Ref. 114953). Taken by surf anglers (Ref. 3919). Flesh highly esteemed (Ref. 3919). It is parasitised by the monogeneans Pseudoleptobothrium christisoni on the dorsal skin surface (Ref. 124055) and Neoheterocotyle robii on the gill lamellae (Ref. 124054).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). 2-10 young born in the summer (Ref. 5578).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1986. Rhinobatidae. p. 128-131. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 3919)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 16.1 - 25.7, mean 22 °C (based on 36 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00214 (0.00123 - 0.00372), b=3.06 (2.90 - 3.22), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.51 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (84 of 100).
