First Records, Description, Distribution, and Notes on the Biology of Bathyraja richardsoni (Garrick) from the Northwest Atlantic

Abstract

Eighteen Bathyraja richardsoni (Garrick 1961), 95–174 cm in total length were taken by bottom longline from southern Labrador to Georges Bank, 17 at 1810–2360 m, and one at 1370–1500 m. These are the first records for the western Atlantic. Studies of morphometries, of numbers, of form, and arrangement of spines, dermal denticles, and teeth, and of body color in these skates amplify the description of the species, known previously only from New Zealand (the holotype) and the northeast Atlantic (eight specimens). There is, however, appreciable variation in the distribution and abundance of dermal denticles between the new specimens and the holotype. These specimens also have middorsal caudal spines instead of the middorsal caudal row of fleshy oval structures (some with a central tubercle of enamel) of the holotype, which are related in this paper to scar areas from lost spines.Some information is provided on weight–length, liver weight, and fatness, vitamin A of liver oil, and length at sexual maturity. Food was mainly fish.The trematode Otodistomum veliporum occurred in 5 of 16 stomachs and the cestode Onchobothrium pseudouncinatum in 6 of 16 intestines. A copepod, tentatively identified as Lernaeopodina longimana, was found on the gills of one of five specimens.