Raja koreana, a new species of skate (Elasmobranchii, Rajoidei) from Korea

A new rajid species, Raja koreana, is described from a single adult female specimen, 735 mm in total length, collected off the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Although R. koreana is included in the group of species characterized by the scapulocoracoid lacking an anterior bridge and having the postventral fenestra expanded, it is unique among the latter in possessing: pectoral girdle propterygium not extending to snout tip; rostral shaft of neurocranium narrow and thick, unsegmented base with filamentous cartilage; snout fleshy; pores of ampullae of Lorenzini densely distributed over much of ventral surface to behind cloaca; most thorns on tail directed anteriorly; tail short; a pair of longitudinally elongated black blotches on middle of dorsal surface of disc when fresh; a pair of black blotches (grayish at center) posteriorly on pectoral fins; ventral surface of disc uniformly blackish-brown, except for areas around pores.