Species: Rostroraja texana, Roundel Skate

Rostroraja texana Chandler, 1921

Roundel Skate

Rhomboidal disc with front margins straight to convex, disc width <65% of TL; snout rigid, not elongate, fairly blunt, its sides distinctly concave, snout length 5 times eye length; pectoral rays not extending along sides of snout to near its tip; eyes on top of head, with spiracles immediately behind; nostrils a little in front of mouth, with front lobes from nostrils forming a curtain between them and mouth; 2 small dorsal fins near rear of tail, with tail fin as a fold behind the second dorsal; pelvic fin with 2 distinct lobes joined by membrane, front lobe ~67-72% of length of rear lobe; tail ~55% of TL; upper surface of disc smooth except for thorns around eyes and between spiracles (none on shoulders); a continuous row of thorns along midline from the nape to the first dorsal fin, those on disc are small (at least 15 between base of pelvic and first dorsal fin), each side of tail with an additional row of thorns.

Upper surface brown, with a round ocellus (dark brown to black, ringed with yellow) on base of pectoral fin; area on each side of snout is semitransparent; underside white; mucous pores on underside of disc unpigmented.

Lives on soft bottoms.

Reaches 54 cm.

Depth range: 15-183 m.

Southern Florida to northern Yucatan.