Beaked Skate

Egg capsules of Zearaja chilensis were obtained from individuals kept in captivity and from dead specimens captured in Valparaíso Bay, central Chile. One female under laboratory conditions deposited three pairs of egg capsules in 6 days. The egg capsules of Dipturus trachyderma were obtained from a female captured in Valdivia, south Chile. Fresh egg capsules of both species were golden-brown and thick walled. Size of egg capsules of Z. chilensis ranged from 94 to 144 mm in capsule length and 64 to 76 mm in capsule width. Those of D. trachyderma ranged between 197 and 199 mm in capsule length and 110.0 and 129.0 mm in capsule width. Range and mean values of capsule length and width of egg capsules described in this study were smaller than those reported for the same species in the south-western Atlantic Ocean. This is the first report on egg-laying rate of Z. chilensis and the first description of egg capsules of Z. chilensis and D. trachyderma from the south-eastern Pacific Ocean.