Bathyraja mariposa
Bathyraja mariposa, sometimes referred to as the butterfly skate,[2] is a species of skate found in the Aleutian islands.[3] It is overall a medium-brown color, lacks thorns on the disc and has indistinct thorns on the tail. It was discovered in 2002 during a National Marine Fisheries Service survey, and first described in 2004. The holotype specimen is held at the University of Washington. Its species name "mariposa" derives from the Spanish word for butterfly, although several other species are sometimes referred to as the "butterfly skate."[3][4]
| Bathyraja mariposa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Superorder: | Batoidea |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: | Arhynchobatidae |
| Genus: | Bathyraja |
| Species: | B. mariposa |
| Binomial name | |
| Bathyraja mariposa D. E. Stevenson, J. W. Orr, Hoff & McEachran, 2004 | |
Description
Bathyraja mariposa is a medium-sized skate relative to other Alaska skates, measuring approximately 0.76 meters total length. It has a lengthy snout and moderately long tail and lacks a pseudosiphon in the claspers. It is morphologically similar to two other Alaskan skates, Bathyraja violacea and Rhinoraja taranetzi, but can be distinguished based on coloration patterns. B. mariposa is green-brown on the dorsal side of the disc, with small dark brown or black blotches on disc and tail. Large yellowish blotches usually appear on the surface of the pectoral fins. The dorsal surface of the disc has uniformly dense coverage of dermal denticles.[4]
Ecology
Bathyraja mariposa has been estimated to have a population density of approximately 0.34 individuals per square kilometer in the Aleutian islands. Trawl surveys have not uncovered this species outside of that region and appears to be found principally in the central Aleutians.[5] It is believed to be benthopelagic, found in waters 90 – 448 meters deep.[3]
References
- Lawson, J.; Machuca, B.; van Hees, K.; Ebert, D.A. (2016). "Bathyraja mariposa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T161319A80675021. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T161319A80675021.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Stevenson, Duane; James W. Orr (2005). "Recent Contributions to the Knowledge of the Skates of Alaska". AFSC Quarterly Report. Jan-Mar 2005: 1–7. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Bathyraja mariposa" in FishBase. February 2009 version.
- Stevenson, DE; JW Orr; GR Hoff; JD McEachran (2004). "Bathyraja mariposa: A New Species of Skate (Rajidae: Arhynchobatinae) from the Aleutian Islands". Copeia. 2004 (2): 305–314. doi:10.1643/CI-03-236R1. S2CID 85741252.
- Stevenson, Duane E.; James W. Orr; Gerald R. Hoff; John D. McEachran (2008). "Emerging patterns of species richness, diversity, population density, and distribution in the skates (Rajidae) of Alaska" (PDF). Fishery Bulletin. 106 (1): 24–39. Retrieved 1 March 2009.