Rajella leoparda

(Von Bonde & Swart, 1923)


Leopard skate
Classification: Elasmobranchii Rajiformes Rajidae

Reference of the original description
von Bonde, C. & Swart, D.B. (1923)
The Platosomia (skates and rays) collected by the S. S. "Pickle." Report Fisheries and Marine Biological Survey, Union of South Africa, 3(5): 1–22, Pls. 20–23

Image of the original description
Image in copyright.

Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Raia leopardus, Raja leopardus, Raja (Rajella) cf. leopardus, Raja (Rajella) leopardus, Rajella leopardus

Types
Rajella leoparda

Rajella leopardus
Holotype: Government Marine Survey: ; Paratype: BMNH: 1935.7.14.3 BMNH: 1935.7.14.2


Description :


Citation: Rajella leoparda (Von Bonde & Swart, 1923): In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 03/2024

Please send your images of "Rajella leoparda" to info@shark-references.com

Egg capsule of Rajella leoparda, MTUF 26695, 74.0 x 74.5 mm © Hajime Ishihara, Japan
Common names
spa Raya leopardo, fra \(T\) Raie léopard, eng Leopard skate, eng Skate

Short Description
Large skate with a moderately long snout, small eyes, and a flat disc; tail about as long as body; small inconspicuous, light thorns on upper surface including snout [536]. Medium grey to brownish dorsally, often with dark spots; white or mottled with dusky patches ventrally [536].

Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: off Namibia and South Africa with spotty records off Senegal and Conarkry, Guinea and as far north to Mauritania. Probably throughout West African slope waters. Source: www.gbif.org

Human uses
fisheries: commercial

Biology
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk [733]. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother [17086]. Found in deeper shelf and slope waters [7180]. Feed on bottom crustaceans, dragonets, rattails, hake, lanternfish, sea pens, cuttlefish and polychaete worms [536]. Feeds on nekton and zoobenthos [536].

Size / Weight / Age
65.0 cm WD (male/unsexed; [17736])

Habitat
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 170 - 1920 m [7180]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=7973;

Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Cestoda
  • Heteronybelinia robusta (Linton, 1890) [16112]

Copepoda