Papuan Velvet Skate

This medium-size species is distinguished by the following set of characters: disc wider than long, width 47.1-50.3% TL, length 42.0-43.6% TL; head short (dorsal head length 15.2-16.2% TL; ventral head length 21.6-22.9% TL); snout relatively short (preorbital length 10.1-11.1% TL; ventral snout length 11.2-12.1% TL); interspiracular distance 5.3-5.9 TL, internasal distance 6.2-6.8% TL, preorbital length 2.4-3.0 times orbit length and 2.9-3.6 times interorbital; dorsal fins two, interdorsal space 1.1-1.9% TL; tail width at pelvic-fin axil 0.9-1.6 times its height; preorbital thorn single and small ; dorsal and most of ventral surface of disc entirely velvety, covered with fine denticles; adolescent male with median disc and pelvic fins naked; in females, anterior pelvic-fin lobe naked (skin naked or with sparse denticles ventrally on mid belly, chin, nasal curtain, and around cloaca); tail is long and slender, entirely velvety and without thorn-like denticles; lateral tail folds are moderately well developed; nasal lobes expanded, width of nasal curtain 7.9-8.3% TL; anterior pelvic-fin lobe is slightly shorter or similar length to posterior lobe; dorsal and ventral surfaces are greyish brown to dark bluish grey; total pectoral-fin radials 58-60; monospondylous centra 23-25, total diplospondylous centra 103-106, total centra 126-131 (Ref. 116308).

The species is known from three type specimens consisting of two females (45.9 and 45.8 cm TL) and an adolescent male (36.3 cm TL); based on the adolescent male size, the females are most likely adults (Ref. 116308).