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Description of egg capsules of Rasptail Skate Rostroraja velezi (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes: Rajidae) from northern Peru

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Abstract

Nine egg capsules of the Rasptail Skate (Rostroraja velezi) were collected from their southernmost distributional range in northern Peruvian waters for their description. Egg capsules had a glossy black or dark brown color, with a subrectangular shape, slightly wider at posterior end than at anterior end. Egg capsules when observed under a stereoscope revealed a finely striated surface. Egg capsules ranged from 6.8 to 7.7 cm in length, 4.9 to 6.2 cm in maximum width, and 4.2 to 5.9 cm in minimum width. Anterior horn length was shorter than posterior horn length (0.29% vs. 0.58%). Differences in egg capsule surface and size were observed when compared to capsules of R. velezi from Baja California, Mexico, possibly due to differences in environmental conditions since individuals sampled belong to different marine provinces. Our results represent the second study to describe egg capsules for this species and the first in the Tropical Eastern Pacific marine province.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Keny Kanagusuku for her support in measuring some egg capsules and Daniel Salazar for his support in photo editing. The authors also thank fishermen from northern Peru who supported this study by facilitating samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Misión Raya, Av. del Pinar 373, San Borja, Lima, Perú

    Pamela Molina-Salgado & Adriana González-Pestana

  2. Carrera de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Panamericana Sur, Km 19, Lima, Peru

    Pamela Molina-Salgado, Adriana González-Pestana & Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto

  3. ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780, Lima 18, Peru

    Adriana González-Pestana & Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto

  4. Pacific Shark Research Center, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA

    David A. Ebert

  5. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

    David A. Ebert

  6. Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA

    David A. Ebert

Authors
  1. Pamela Molina-Salgado
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  2. Adriana González-Pestana
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  3. Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto
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  4. David A. Ebert
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Correspondence to Adriana González-Pestana.

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Molina-Salgado, P., González-Pestana, A., Alfaro-Shigueto, J. et al. Description of egg capsules of Rasptail Skate Rostroraja velezi (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes: Rajidae) from northern Peru. Environ Biol Fish 105, 663–668 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-022-01271-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-022-01271-3

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