Pavoraja

Last, Peter R. & Yearsley, Stephen Mallick And Gordon K., 2008, A review of the Australian skate genus Pavoraja Whitley (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae), Zootaxa 1812, pp. 1-45 : 43-44

Key to species of the genus Pavoraja :

1. Dorsal surface of disc with a distinctive colour pattern dominated either by small (normally white) spots and/or reticulations (rarely plain in P. pseudonitida )...................................................................................2 Dorsal surface of disc mostly immaculate, sometimes with a few large (often faint), dusky blotches; white spots and reticulations absent......................................................................................................................4

2. Spots irregular in shape and size, very densely arranged over disc and tail; preoral snout more than 13.7 (14–15) % of TL; nuchal and prenuchal thorns absent............ P. m o s a i c a sp. nov. (northeastern Australia) Spots regular in shape and size, lightly to moderately arranged over disc; preoral snout less than 13.7 (10– 13.5) % of TL; nuchal and prenuchal thorns rarely absent, normally with 1–5..........................................3

3. Spots aggregated into irregularly shaped clusters; tail relatively broad, width at midlength rarely more than 27 in postcloacal length; predorsal caudal centra fewer than 73 (62–70) .............................................. ..................................................... P. n i t i d a (Günther) (southeastern Australia and Great Australian Bight) Spots arranged randomly, not clustered; tail relatively narrow, width at midlength rarely less than 27 in postcloacal length; predorsal caudal centra more than 73 (76–81) ............................................................... ......................................................................................... P. pseudonitida sp. nov. (northeastern Australia)

4. Thorns on dorsal surface of tail immediately before first dorsal fin similar in size to those anteriorly; tail relatively rounded in cross-section, sum of its heights at pelvic tips and first dorsal-fin origin more than 1.2 times orbit diameter; predorsal caudal centra less than or equal to 72 (65–72) ....................................... ..................................................................................................... P. arenaria sp. nov. (southern Australia) Dorsal surface of tail immediately before first dorsal fin normally lacking thorns, if present much smaller than those anteriorly; tail relatively depressed in cross-section, sum of its heights at pelvic tips and first dorsal-fin origin less than 1.2 times orbit diameter; predorsal caudal centra greater than or equal to 73 (73–83)..........................................................................................................................................................5

5. Dorsal surface of disc predominantly pale yellowish brown; medial series (and usually lateral series) of thorns on tail usually extending onto disc above cloaca; interorbital distance less than 1.6 in orbit diameter; less than 67 (64–66) pectoral radials...... P. a l l e n i McEachran and Fechhelm (northwestern Australia) Dorsal surface of disc predominantly dark greyish brown (sometimes yellowish in preservative); medial series (and rarely lateral series) of thorns on tail not extending onto disc above cloaca, normally commencing near axil of pelvic fins; interorbital distance normally more than 1.6 in orbit diameter (sometimes less in juveniles); more than 67 (68–71) pectoral radials ..... P. u m b r o s a sp. nov. (eastern Australia)