Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5278 No. 1: 4 May 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-05-04
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5278.1.4
Page range: 103-118
Abstract views: 532
PDF downloaded: 26

Okamejei picta sp. nov., a new rajid skate from the South China Sea (Rajiformes: Rajidae)

Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan
National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium; Pingtung; Taiwan; Institute of Marine Biology; National Donghwa University; Hualien; Australian Museum; Sydney; Australia (Research Associate)
Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan; George Chen Shark Research Center; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan
George Chen Shark Research Center; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan; Institute of Marine Affairs and Resource Management; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan
Pisces Chondrichthyes Rajiformes genus Okamejei taxonomy biodiversity

Abstract

A new species of Okamejei is described based on two adult males collected from deep waters in the South China Sea. The new species, Okamejei picta sp. nov., is readily distinguished from most other congeners in having densely scattered black spots on dorsal disc. Okamejei hollandi and O. mengae is quite similar to the new species by their spot patterns on dorsal disc, but the new species differs from the former by a combination of characters: a yellowish brown dorsal surface densely covered with small, circular to irregular-shaped black spots; blotches on dorsal disc indistinct; posterior ocellus absent; ventral disc white; disc length 45.0–47.7% TL; distance between cloaca to caudal-fin tip 53.6–55.1% TL; trunk centra 31; total basal radials 73–76, morphology of clasper terminal skeleton, and lacking component funnel at the clasper end.

 

References

  1. Bleeker, P. (1860) Zesde bijdrage tot de kennis der vischfauna van Japan. Acta Societatis Scientiarum Indo-Neerlandicae, Batavia, 8, 1–104. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.144153 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.144153
  2. Gabbanelli, V., Naylor, G., Weigmann, S., Yang, L., Vazquez, D.M., Last, P., Díaz de Astarloa, J.M. & Mabragaña, E. (2022) Morphological and molecular evidence reveals Zearaja brevicaudata (Marini, 1933) is a senior synonym of Dipturus lamillai Concha, Caira, Ebert & Pompert 2019. Zoological Studies, 61, 76.
  3. Ishihara, H. (1987) Revision of the western north Pacific species of the genus Raja. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 34 (3), 241–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03380117 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03380117
  4. Ishiyama, R. (1958) Studies on the rajid fishes (Rajidae) found in the waters around Japan. Journal of Shimonoseki College of Fisheries, 7 (2–3), 193–394.
  5. Jeong, C.-H., Nakabo, T. & Wu, H.-L. (2007) A new species of skate (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae), Okamejei mengae from the South China Sea. Korean Journal of Ichthyology, 19 (1), 57–65.
  6. Jordan, D.S. & Richardson, R.E. (1909) A catalogue of the fishes of the island of Formosa, or Taiwan, based on the collections of Dr. Hans Sauter. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum, 4, 159–204. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.48328 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/p.48328
  7. Joung, S.-J., Lee, P.-H., Liu, K.-M. & Liao, Y.-Y. (2011) Estimates of life history parameters of the sharpspine skate, Okamejei acutispina, in the northeastern waters of Taiwan. Fisheries Research, 108 (2–3), 258–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2010.12.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2010.12.013
  8. Last, P.R. & Gledhill, D.C. (2008) Two new skates of the genus Okamejei (Rajoidei: Rajidae) from the south-east Indian Ocean. In: Last, P.R., White, W.T., Pogonoski, J.J. & Gledhill, D.C. (Eds.), Descriptions of new Australian skates. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Clayton North, pp. 119–134.
  9. Last, P.R. & Yearsley, G.K. (2002) Zoogeography and relationships of Australasian skates (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Journal of Biogeography, 29 (12), 1627–1641.
  10. fhttps://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00793.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2002.00793.x
  11. Last P.R., Fahmi & Ishihara, H. (2010) Okamejei cairae sp. nov. (Rajoidei: Rajidae), a new skate from the South China Sea. In: Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Pogonoski, J.J. (Eds.), Descriptions of New Sharks and Rays from Borneo. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Clayton North, pp. 89–100.
  12. Last P.R., Séret B., Stehmann M.F.W. & Weigmann S. (2016) Skates. Family Rajidae. In: Last, P.R., Naylor, G., Séret, B., White, W.T., de Carvalho, M. & Stehmann, M. (Eds.), Rays of the World. CSIRO publishing, Clayton North, pp. 204–236. https://doi.org/10.1071/9780643109148 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/9780643109148
  13. Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 824 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542
  14. McEachran, J.D. & Dunn, K.A. (1998) Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia, 1998 (2), 271–290. https://doi.org/10.2307/1447424 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1447424
  15. McEachran, J.D. & Fechhelm, J.D. (1982) A new species of skate from the western Indian Ocean, with comments on the status of Raja (Okamejei) (Elasmobranchii: Rajiformes). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 95 (3), 440–450. https://doi.org/10.2307/1444098 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1444098
  16. Misawa, R., Narimatsu, Y., Endo, H. & Kai, Y. (2019) Population structure of the ocellate spot skate (Okamejei kenojei) inferred from variations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences and from morphological characters of regional populations. Fishery Bulletin, 117, 24–36. https://doi.org/10.7755/FB.117.1.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7755/FB.117.1.4
  17. Misawa, R., Babaran, R.P. & Motomura, H. (2022) Okamejei panayensis sp. nov., a new skate (Rajiformes: Rajidae) from the Philippines. Ichthyological Research, 70, pages161–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-022-00874-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-022-00874-1
  18. Müller, J. & Henle, F.G.J. (1841) Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. Berlin. Plagiostomen, 1841, i–xxii + 1–200. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6906 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6906
  19. Rafinesque, C.S. (1810) Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante delta Sicilia, con varie osservazioni sopra i medisimi. Per le stampe di Sanfilippo, Palermo, 105 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.104418 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.104418
  20. Weigmann, S., Stehmann, M.F.W. & Thiel, R. (2015) Okamejei ornata n. sp., a new deep-water skate (Elasmobranchii, Rajidae) from the northwestern Indian Ocean off Socotra Islands. Deep-Sea Research II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 115, 18–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.09.005
  21. Weigmann, S. (2016) Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeographical diversity. Journal of Fish Biology, 88 (3), 837–1037. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12874 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12874
  22. Weigmann, S. (2017) Reply to Borsa (2017): Comment on ‘Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeographical diversity by Weigmann (2016)’. Journal of Fish Biology, 90 (4), 1176–1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13234