First record of rare skate off Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

On 20th July 2007, one single specimen of roundel skate was accidentally caught by fish trawl net operated off Gulf of Mannar at a depth of 70m and landed at Pamban-Therkuvadi. The specimen was identified as Raja texana, Chandler, 1921, belonging to the family Rajidae. The fish was a female measuring 360mm in length and weighing 760 g. It is for the first time this species was recorded from the Gulf of Mannar Sea