Going deeper, darker and further: Observations charting an egg nursery, a range and depth extension for the deep-sea spiny tailed skate Bathyraja spinicauda, first records from the Mid Atlantic Ridge

Abstract

A range extension for the spiny tailed skate, Bathyraja spinicauda is presented here, evidenced by an egg nursery observed atop a ridge on the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone along the Mid Atlantic Ridge. The species identification used an integrated taxonomic approach based on egg morphology and mtCOI barcoding of intact embryos. The egg nursery was mapped, and key environmental descriptors characterised: sedimentation, substrate type and predation risk. This egg nursery was recommended for classification as an essential fish habitat (EFH).