New Zealand country information

Common names: Rough skate, Uku
Occurrence: endemic
Salinity: marine
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Cox, G. and M. Francis, 1997
Importance: commercial | Ref: Cox, G. and M. Francis, 1997
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Most common New Zealand skate (Ref. 26346). Occurs throughout the country (Ref. 9258) and usually found in coastal waters (Ref. 9258). Found in Chathams Island (Ref. 45493) and off the east coast of South Island (Ref. 58461). Large numbers caught in commercial trawls and the wings are sold locally or exported to Europe, especially France (Ref. 26346). Voucher specimen(s) held at the NMNZ (Ref. 5755). Also Ref. 6871, 9258.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html
National Fisheries Authority: https://www.fish.govt.nz/
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Cox, G. and M. Francis, 1997
National Database:

Classification / Names

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Rajiformes (Skates and rays) > Rajidae (Skates)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Rough skate, Rough skate, Brown rough skate, ... more

Main reference

McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn. 1998. (Ref. 27314)
References | Biblio | Coordinator : McEachran, John | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 118 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26346); common length : 62.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9258); max. reported age: 9 years (Ref. 47618)

Length at first maturity
L_m 59.0 range ? - ? cm

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 1500 m (Ref. 26346)

Climate / Range

Temperate, preferred 14°C (Ref. 107945)

Distribution

Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Brown dorsally, mottled with white and black spots, and a large dark blotch on each wing; white ventrally (Ref. 26346).

Inhabit the continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 26346); usually in coastal waters (Ref. 9258). Found partially buried in sand (Ref. 26346). Feed on fish, shellfish, crabs, and worms (Ref. 26346). Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205). Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats (Ref. 205). Egg capsules are 10.2-12.7 cm long and 6.3-8.3 cm wide (Ref. 41249, 41308).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items
Food consumption
Ration

Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance

References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
Strains
Genetics
Allele frequencies
Heritability
Diseases
Processing
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures
Stamps, Coins
Sounds
Ciguatera
Speed
Swim. type
Gill area
Otoliths
Brains
Vision

Tools

Special reports

Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML

Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.7 ±0.57 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
High vulnerability (59 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Medium

Zearaja nasuta (Müller & Henle, 1841)