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Table 5 Identification key for rajid eggcases of central-western Mediterranean

From: Morphological descriptions of the eggcases of skates (Rajidae) from the central-western Mediterranean, with notes on their distribution

1a

Eggcase large >90 mm ECL, with well-developed aprons

2

1b

Eggcase small-medium in length 40 < ECL < 70 mm, with moderate or narrow aprons

3

2a

Eggcase rectangular: ECL approximately two times the ECW (ECL range = 153–177 mm; ECW range = 61.8–80.5 mm) with well-developed aprons (AAL range = 38.2–49.7 mm; PAL range = 26.2–40.9 mm)

D. nidarosiensis

2b

Eggcase rectangular: ECL approximately two times the width (ECL range = 91.6–116.2 mm; ECW range = 48.9–67.5 mm). Developed aprons (AAL range = 20.3–31.7 mm PAL; range = 7.7–20.8 mm). Short anterior and posterior horns

D. oxyrinchus

2c

Eggcase rectangular: ECL approximately two times the ECW (ECL range = 113–133 mm; ECW range = 64.7–72.2 mm). Developed aprons (AAL range = 18.5–25.7 mm; PAL range = 17.5–26.6 mm). Long and thin horns, particularly the anterior (about 50% of ECL)

R. brachyura

3a

Eggcase small-medium in length 40 < ECL < 70 mm with evident or narrow keels

4

3b

Eggcase small and rectangular (ECL range = 41.8–56.5 mm) without keels

5

4a

Eggcase moderate in size (ECL range = 62.5–67.5 mm), rectangular/almost square in shape (ECL approximately 1.4 times the ECW). Aprons and keels developed. Anterior horns moderate and thin, posterior horns short and sturdy

R. clavata

4b

Eggcase small (ECL range = 39.7–55.4 mm) rectangular/almost square in shape (ECL approximately 1.4 times the ECW). Evident keels and both anterior and posterior horns moderate and thin

R. asterias

4c

Eggcase moderate in size (ECL range = 56.6–69.2 mm) with rectangular shape (ECL approximately two times the ECW). Narrow keels. Anterior horns moderate and thin, posterior horns moderate and sturdy

R. polystigma

5a

Anterior and posterior horns short

R. miraletus

5b

Moderate posterior horns and very long, thin and curved inwards

L. melitensis