Neoraja stehmanni (Hulley, 1972)

African Pygmy Skate

Breviraja stehmanni Hulley, 1972b: 254, figs. 1–5. Holotype: SAM 26636. Type locality: Cape Basin, South Africa.

Local synonymy:? Raia plutonia: Barnard, 1925: 68 (in part). Breviraja stehmanni: Hulley, 1972b: 254, figs. 1–5. Neoraja (Neoraja) stehmanni: Hulley, 1986: 118, fig. 25.5. Neoraja stehmanni: Compagno et al., 1989: 88, pl.; Compagno et al. 1991: 93; Ebert et al., 1991: 76; Stehmann, 1995: 104; Compagno, 1999: 116; Compagno & Ebert, 2007: 137, fig. 5f; Ebert & Compagno, 2007: 120; Ebert et al., 2008: 92; Ebert, 2014: 71, fig. 110; Ebert, 2015: 183, fig. 207; Ebert & van Hees, 2015: 147; Last et al., 2016f: 24; Last et al., 2016g: 301, fig. 19.92; Weigmann, 2016: 950.

South Africa voucher material: Holotype: SAM 26636. Non-types: SAIAB 54532, SAIAB 54999, SAIAB 64275.

South African distribution: Endemic. Occurs from southwest of the Orange River (NC) to south of Cape Point and east to Algoa Bay (EC), with a population concentration between Saldanha Bay and Cape Point.

Remarks: This is one of the smallest southern African skate species and is endemic to South Africa. Its distribution appears to be very localized compared to other regional skate species.

Conservation status: LC (2019).