New Zealand Rough Skate

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

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Young hatching at about 18-20 cm (Ref. 26346). Distinct pairing with embrace. Young may tend to follow large objects, such as their mother (Ref. 205).

Inhabits the continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 26346); usually in coastal waters (Ref. 9258). Found partially buried in sand (Ref. 26346). Feeds on fish, shellfish, crabs, and worms.

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).

fisheries: commercial

The New Zealand rough skate, Zearaja nasuta, is a skate of the genus Zearaja, found around New Zealand at depths between 10 and 1,500 m. Its length is up to 1 m. This species has been assessed by the IUCN as of Least Concern. In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the New Zealand rough skate as "Not Threatened" with the qualifier "Conservation Dependant" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.