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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: 685
PDF downloaded: 34

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.

 

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How to Cite

Ng, S.-L., Ho, H.-C., Joung, S.-J. & Liu, K.-M. (2023) Okamejei picta sp. nov., a new rajid skate from the South China Sea (Rajiformes: Rajidae). Zootaxa, 5278 (1), 103–118. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5278.1.4