Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Rajiformes (Skates and rays) >
Rajidae (Skates)
Etymology: confusa: Name from Latin 'confusio' in relation to past confusion with other Australasian skates, Zearaja nasuta and Dipturus cerva.
More on author: Last.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 18 - 390 m (Ref. 75648), usually 18 - 120 m (Ref. 75648). Temperate; 35°S - 45°S, 142°E - 153°E (Ref. 114953)
Eastern Indian Ocean and Southwest Pacific: off south-eastern Australia
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 64.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 75648); 69.5 cm TL (female)
Inhabits continental shelf at 20-120 m, rarely found deeper to 390 m. Feeds mainly on crabs, shrimps and other benthic crustaceans. Reproduces throughout the year and reaches maturity at 5-6 years (Ref. 114953). Lengths of adolescent males varied from 41.5-53.4 cm TL, adult males from 49.8-64.9 cm TL; smallest juvenile 22.0 cm TL. Egg cases were observed to be about 5.6-6.9 cm long with a maximum width of about 4.5-5.3 cm TL (Ref. 75648).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Last, P.R., 2008. New short-snout members of the skate genus Dipturus (Rajoidei: Rajidae) from Australian seas. pp. 53-98. In Last, P.R., W.T. White, J.J. Pogonoski and D.C. Gledhill (eds.): Descriptions of new Australian skates (Batoidea: Rajoidei) pg. 53-98. CSIRO marine and atmospheric research paper no. 021. (Ref. 75648)
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 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high]. |
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Bayesian length-weight
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a=0.00309 (0.00144 - 0.00663), b=3.24 (3.07 - 3.41), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245). |
Trophic level (Ref. 69278) |
4.2 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives |
Resilience (Ref. 120179) |
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary low fecundity). |
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153) |
Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100). 🛈 |