| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | CHONDRICHTHYES | RAJIFORMES | RAJIDAE |
| Scientific Name: | Rajella eisenhardti | |||
| Species Authority: | Long & McCosker, 1999 | |||
Common Name/s:
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| Red List Category & Criteria: | Data Deficient ver 3.1 |
| Year Assessed: | 2007 |
| Assessor/s | McCormack, C. & Kyne, P.M. |
| Evaluator/s: | Valenti, S.V., Gibson, C.G. & Fowler, S.L. |
|
Justification: A deepwater skate known only from the holotype and paratype (both immature males) caught at 757 and 907 m during investigations using a manned submersible off the Galapagos Islands in the Southeast Pacific. Fishing activities around the Galapagos Archipelago are mostly limited to the coastal zone (although pelagic longlining also occurs). The habitat of this species (steep rocky volcanic slopes) is unsuitable for trawling, and demersal deepwater fisheries are not presently operating within its range. There is insufficient data to assess this species beyond Data Deficient at the present time. Further sampling would help to better define the distribution and occurrence of the species, which is likely endemic to the Archipelago. |
|
| Range Description: | Likely endemic to the Galapagos Islands in the Southeast Pacific where it has been documented from two sites as per the original species description (Long and McCosker 1999): off Cabo Rosa (01°04.74’S, 91°11.08’W), Isla Isabella and off James Bay (00°26.46’S, 90°19.04’W), Isla San Salvador, Santiago Island. |
| Countries: |
Native:
Ecuador (Galápagos)
|
| FAO Marine Fishing Areas: |
Native:
Pacific – southeast
|
| Population: | Known only from two records as per the original species description (Long and McCosker 1999). |
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
|
| Habitat and Ecology: | Recorded from steep slopes around the Galapagos Islands at depths of 757 and 907 m (Long and McCosker 1999). The holotype and largest known specimen was an immature male measuring 38.5 cm TL (Long and McCosker 1999). Like other skates is oviparous but nothing else is known of the species’ biology. |
| Systems: | Marine |
| Major Threat(s): | Fishing activities around the Galapagos Archipelago are mostly limited to the coastal zone, although pelagic longlining also occurs. The habitat of this species (steep rocky volcanic slopes) is unsuitable for trawling, and demersal deepwater fisheries are not presently operating within its range. |
| Conservation Actions: |
The Galapagos Archipelago is covered by the Galapagos Marine Reserve which includes protected areas. However, both the enforcement of regulations and the prosecution of illegal fishers are often lacking.
The species was discovered during surveys using manned submersibles (Long and McCosker 1999) as its habitat is unsuitable for more traditional sampling methods (i.e., trawling). Further sampling would help to better define the distribution and occurrence of the species, which given the isolation of the Galapagos Islands, is likely endemic to the Archipelago. |
| Citation: | McCormack, C. & Kyne, P.M. 2007. Rajella eisenhardti. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010. |
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