Dipturus springeri (lat.) - a type of cartilaginous fish of the family of rhombic rays of the order of the sloped . They live in the southeastern part of the Atlantic and western Indian Ocean . They are found at a depth of up to 740 m. Their large, flattened pectoral fins form a diamond-shaped disk with an elongated and pointed snout. The maximum recorded length is 160 cm [1] [2] [3] .
| Dipturus springeri |
| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetric |
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| International Scientific Name |
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Dipturus springeri ( JH Wallace , 1967) |
| Synonyms |
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- Raja springeri Wallace, 1967
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| Security status |
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Not enough data IUCN Data Deficient : 161653 |
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The species was first scientifically described in 1967 as Raja springeri [4] . The holotype is a young male 62 cm long, with a disk 49.8 cm wide, weighing 1.13 kg, caught 30 miles from Durban ( ), South Africa, at a depth of 550 m. Paratype: female, 83.2 cm long, 2.5 kg in weight, caught in South African waters at a depth of 740 m [5] . The species is named in honor of Stuart Springer (1906β1991), scientific supervisor of the 8th voyage of the international research expedition in the Indian Ocean , during which material was collected for research [6] .
These battidemersal slopes live off the coast of Kenya , Madagascar , Mozambique , Namibia and South Africa [3] . They are found on the outer edge of the continental shelf and in the upper part of the continental slope at a depth of 88 to 740 m, mostly between 400 and 500 m [2] .
The wide and flat pectoral fins of these rays form a rhombic disk with a triangular elongated snout and gapped edges. On the ventral side of the disc are 5 gill slits, nostrils and mouth. On the long tail there are lateral folds. These rays have 2 reduced dorsal fins and a reduced tail fin [1] . The dorsal surface of the disk is covered with small spines and painted in a smooth dark gray color. The sensitive pore area on the ventral side is black [7] . The maximum recorded length is 160 cm [2] .
Like other rhombic, these stingrays lay eggs enclosed in a hard horn capsule with protrusions at the ends. Embryos feed exclusively on yolk [2] . The diet consists mainly of bony fishes , crabs and squid [3] .
Not subject to commercial fishing. Caught as by- catch . Low fecundity, late maturation and slow growth make these stingrays vulnerable. Data for assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature of the conservation status of the species is insufficient [3] .
