Neoraja carolinensis

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Rajidae	Neoraja carolinensis	McEachran and Stehmann, 1984	1984	Carolina Dwarf Skate

Neoraja carolinensis

Unique Characteristics: Snout short and bluntly angled. Disc shape subrhombic to subcircular, with anterior margins strongly undulated in mature males. A theoretical line from snout tip to pectoral wing tip touching or cutting front margin of disc. Internasal width usually more than 70% of the distance from one nostril to snout tip.

Thorns always present on disc, at least on head. Upper disc and tail with dense coverage of fine or even velvet-like dermal denticles; underside of tail at least edged with, or totally covered with dermal denticles. Typically, median row thorns on tail dwindling in size rearward and totally disappearing in posterior third of tail length among dense dermal denticles a fair distance in front of first dorsal fin.

Pygmy size skates growing to maximum of 30 to 35 cm total length (very apparent by mature males of such small size), with tail distinctly longer than body (about 60% total length).

Tip of snout flexible; rostral cartilage distally very slender. Anterior pectoral-fin rays extending nearly to tip of snout. Anterior lobe of pelvic fin 80-100% of posterior lobe. Tail width at base less than orbit diameter.

Similar Species: None

Reference:

(FAO 2013) Ebert, D.A. and M.F.W. Stehmann. 2013. Sharks, batoids, and chimaeras of the North Atlantic. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 7. Rome, FAO. 523 pp.