Abstract
Sandy Skate, Leucoraja circularis (Couch, 1838), is recorded for first time from the Syrian marine waters. Two specimens of L. circularis were caught by bottom trawl at depth about 120 m on 20 February 2017, the first specimen was an immature female and the second an immature male; they measured 580 mm and 628 mm total length, and weighed 880 g and 1240 g, respectively. This capture represents the first documented record of the species in the Syrian marine waters (Eastern Mediterranean) so further investigations should be made to detect new species along the Syrian coast.
Highlights
Sandy Skate, Leucoraja circularis, is a relatively large species found in the north-east Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (McCully et al 2015)
On 20 February 2017, two specimen of Leucoraja circularis were captured by a bottom trawler about 10 km south-west off the Lattakia coast (Levant Basin of Mediterranean), 35°34′ N 35°37′ E (Fig. 1), at a depth of 100 m
Consalvo et al (2009) reported the first record of a male of L. circularis was captured from Tyrrhenian Sea in 2005 (Table 1), The morphometric and meristic characters have been shown to be pretty close to those results of Consalvo et al (2009)
Summary
Sandy Skate, Leucoraja circularis, is a relatively large species found in the north-east Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (McCully et al 2015). This species is only reported in the western Mediterranean Basin (Stehmann and Burkel 1984; Quignard and Tomasini 2000; Psomadakis et al 2012). The species being not reported before in the Levant Basin (Golani 2005; Saad et al 2006; Ali and Saad 2010). This paper is reporting first occurrence of Leucoraja circularis from Syrian marine waters from Levant Basin, and providing the principal biometric and meristic characters of this species
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
