Rajella leopardus
Taxonomy [top]
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | CHONDRICHTHYES | RAJIFORMES | RAJIDAE |
| Scientific Name: | Rajella leopardus | |||
| Species Authority: | (von Bonde & Swart, 1923) | |||
Common Name/s:
|
||||
Assessment Information [top]
| Red List Category & Criteria: | Least Concern ver 3.1 |
| Year Assessed: | 2004 |
| Assessor/s: | Smale, M.J. (SSG Subequatorial Africa Regional Workshop, September 2003) |
| Reviewer/s: | Cavanagh, R.D., Kyne, P.M. & Fowler, S.L. (Shark Red List Authority) |
|
Justification: A poorly known southern African endemic skate known from Namibia and South Africa. Its depth range (300 to 1,000 m), relatively wide distribution and common occurrence suggest that it is not yet threatened by commercial trawling. However, the situation must be monitored, particularly given the potential threat of expanding deepwater trawl fisheries in the region. |
|
Geographic Range [top]
| Range Description: | Most records are from South African waters between the Orange River and southwest of Quion Point. Concentrations were recorded between Port Noloth and Doring Bay, and between Doring Bay and Cape Town. |
| Countries: |
Native:
Namibia; South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal - Presence Uncertain)
|
| FAO Marine Fishing Areas: |
Native:
Atlantic – southeast
Presence uncertain:
Indian Ocean – western
|
| Range Map: |
(click map to view full version)
|
Population [top]
| Population: | Commonly recorded from the upper slope but size of population unknown. |
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
|
Habitat and Ecology [top]
| Habitat and Ecology: | Upper slope species with the majority of records from 300 to 500 m, with a few records from the deep slope at 650 to 1,000 m, which included large adult females. Nothing known of its biology. |
| Systems: | Marine |
Threats [top]
| Major Threat(s): | Bycatch in the hake trawl fishery. The potential threat of expanding deepwater trawl fisheries in the region warrants close consideration. |
Conservation Actions [top]
| Conservation Actions: | No conservation measures are in place for this species. Research into life history and bycatch monitoring is required. |
Bibliography [top]
|
Compagno, L.J.V., Ebert, D.A. and Cowley, P.D. 1991. Distribution of offshore demersal cartilaginous fishes (Class Chondrichthyes) of the west coast of southern Africa, with notes on their systematics. South African Journal of Marine Science 11:43-139. Compagno, L.J.V., Ebert, D.A. and Smale, M.J. 1989. Guide to the sharks and rays of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. 160 pp. Hulley, P.A. 1988. Family No. 25 Rajidae. In: Smiths? Sea Fishes 1st edition. Southern Book Publishers, Johannesburg. IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/. |
| Citation: | Smale, M.J. 2004. Rajella leopardus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012. |
| Disclaimer: | To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>. |
| Feedback: | If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided |