New data on the rare deep-sea skate Amblyraja jenseni (Rajidae) from the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

In this study we present the most complete description of color variation, morphometric and meristic characters for the rare deep-sea North Atlantic Jensen’s skate Amblyraja jenseni, based on analyses of a wide range of accessible material. Comparisons of external morphological characters of male and female specimens of varying sizes and from different regions of the North Atlantic indicated regional morphological differences likely due to prolonged geographic isolation of local populations of this species. The vast majority of individuals exhibited a “dark” coloration, with a less common “light” coloration observed particularly among skates from the waters of the northeast and northwest Atlantic. Only dark-colored skates were found in the waters of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We also provide new data on the habitat, vertical distribution and size of the Jensen’s skate.