Species: Fenestraja sinusmexicanus, Gulf Skate, Gulf Window Skate

Fenestraja sinusmexicanus (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)

Gulf Skate, Gulf Window Skate

Heart-shaped disc with front margins undulating; tip of snout pointed, flexible, not elongate; front pectoral fin rays extend nearly to tip of snout; eyes on top of head, large (~space between them), with spiracles immediately behind; nostrils a little in front of mouth, with front lobes from nostrils forming a curtain between them and mouth; no nasal pits before and above nasal curtain; pelvic fin with 2 distinct lobes joined by membrane, front lobe equal to or only slightly shorter than rear lobe; tail 65-67% of TL, base narrow (<eye); 2 small dorsal fins near rear of tail, with tail fin as a fold behind the second dorsal, distance between them 1/3 of length of base of the first dorsal;upper surface more or less uniformly covered with denticles; thorns around eyes, in a triangular patch on nape & shoulders, 3 rows of thorns along center of rear half of disc and 3-4 rows along top of tail to first dorsal fin; no denticles on underside of tail.

Upper surface purplish brown, sometimes with dark blotches; lower surface yellowish white.

Reaches 36 cm.

Habitat: soft bottoms.

Depth: 56-1784 m.

The Gulf of Mexico to the S Caribbean.