Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 426 No. 1: 6 Feb. 2004
Type: Article
Published: 2004-02-06
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.426.1.1
Page range: 1–4
Abstract views: 53
PDF downloaded: 3

Egg capsules of Atlantoraja cyclophora (Regan, 1903) and A. platana (G nther, 1880) (Pisces, Elasmobranchii, Rajidae)

Departamento de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Elasmobrânquios e Aves Marinhas, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Caixa Postal 474, CEP 96201-900, Rio Grande-RS, BRAZIL
Departamento de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Elasmobrânquios e Aves Marinhas, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Caixa Postal 474, CEP 96201-900, Rio Grande-RS, BRAZIL
Departamento de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Elasmobrânquios e Aves Marinhas, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Caixa Postal 474, CEP 96201-900, Rio Grande-RS, BRAZIL
Pisces Rajidae egg capsule western South Atlantic Atlantoraja taxonomy morphology

Abstract

Egg capsules of Atlantoraja cyclophora and A. platana are asymmetrical, dorsally convex and ventrally flat, with longitudinally striated faces. Those of other rajoid genera occurring in Cassino Beach (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil), Psammobatis, Sympterygia and Rioraja, are equally convex in lateral view, and have smooth faces. In Atlantoraja the egg capsules are laterally keeled while in Sympterygia a lateral flange exists. Mean egg capsule length and width are 68 and 39 mm in A. cyclophora, and 69 and 45 mm in A. platana. Egg capsules of A. platana are significantly wider than those of A. cyclophora with anterior and posterior horns significantly longer. The outline of the velum is convex in dorsal view in A. cyclophora and slightly convex in A. platana.

References

  1. Braccini, J.M. & Chiaramonte, G.E. (2002) Reproductive biology of Psammobatis extenta. Journal of Fish Biology, 61, 272–288.

    Clark, R.S. (1922) Rays and Skates (Raiae) No. 1: Egg capsules and young. Journal of Marine Biology Association of the United Kingdom, 577–643.

    Gomes, U.L. & de Carvalho, M.R. (1995) Egg capsules of Shroederichthys tenuis and Scyliorhinus haeckelli (Condrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae). Copeia, 1995, 232–236.

    Iglesias, S.P., Du Buit, M.H. & Nakaya, K. (2002) Egg capsules of deep-sea catsharks from eastern North Atlantic, with first description of the capsule of Galeus mirinus and Apristurus aphyodes (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae). Cybium, 26, 59–63.

    Luer, C. A. & Gilbert, P.W. (1985) Mating behaviour, egg deposition, incubation period, and hatching of Raja eglanteria. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 13, 161–171.

    McEachran, J. (1970) Egg capsules and reproductive biology of the skate Raja garmani (Pisces, Rajidae). Copeia, 1970, 197–199.

    Mabragaña, E., Lucifora, L.O & Massa, A.M. (2002) The reproductive biology and abundance of Sympterygia bonapartii endemic to the south-west Atlantic. Journal of Fish Biology, 60, 951–967.

    Oddone, M.C. & Vooren, C.M. (2002) Egg-cases and size at hatching of Sympterygia acuta in the south-western Atlantic. Journal of Fish Biology, 61, 858–861.

    Sokal, R.R. & Rohlf, F.J. (1987) Introduction to Biostatistics. Second Edition. W.H. Freeman and Company, Eds., New York, 363 pp.

    Templeman, W. (1982) Development, occurrence and characteristics of egg capsules of the thorny skate, Raja radiata, in the Northwest Atlantic. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Science, 3, 47–56.

    Vooren, C.M. (1997) Demersal Elsamobranchs. In: Seeliger, U., Odebrecht, C. & Castello, J.P. (Eds.) Subtropical Convergence Environments: the Coast and Sea in the South Western Atlantic. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 141–146.