Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Gurgesiellidae (Pygmy skates)
Etymology: Gurgesiella: Latin, gurges = abyss, whirlpool (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 374 - 480 m (Ref. 13608). Deep-water
Western Atlantic: Caribbean Sea to Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 557)
Width 19.6 cm (Ref. 13608). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Eggs have horn-like projections on the shell (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn, 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290. (Ref. 27314)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804) |
PD50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high]. |
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Bayesian length-weight
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a=0.00661 (0.00225 - 0.01943), b=2.95 (2.71 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245). |
Trophic level (Ref. 69278) |
3.9 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives |
Resilience (Ref. 120179) |
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100). |
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153) |
Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100). 🛈 |