Species: Fenestraja cubensis, Cuban Pygmy Skate, Cuban Window Skate

Fenestraja cubensis (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)

Cuban Pygmy Skate, Cuban Window Skate

Heart-shaped disc with front margins distinctly undulating; disc width 1.2X length; snout short (before eyes 10% TL); 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 70% of length of rear lobe; tail 62% of TL, base narrow (<eye), lateral folds on rear 2/3; 2 small dorsal fins near rear of tail, with tail fin as a fold behind the second dorsal, distance between them ~1/4X length of base of the first dorsal; upper surface with scattered small denticles, pelvics smooth; thorns relatively small, 10-11 around inner edges of eyes; 0-2 thorns on each shoulder, a central row of 72 from nape to 1st dorsal fin,1 row on each side of tail; tail with scattered denticles, including between dorsals and front of dorsal fins; no denticles on underside of disc and tail.

Upper surface pale brownish with a few small roundish darker spots and larger irregular blotches, largest one in center of each pectoral; pelvics with front lobe white, rear lobe as on disc; tail with 6 blackish-brown cross-bars, 1st faint, last two darkest & covering front 2/3 of both dorsal fins; lower surface pale yellowish.

Reaches 23 cm.

Habitat: soft bottoms.

Depth: 440-869 m.

SE Florida to Cuba.