The Atlantic butterfly skate (Bathyraja papilionifera) is a species of fish in the family Rajidae found off the coasts of South America in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Etymology The specific epithet papilionifera means “butterfly-bearing”, referring to the butterfly-shaped dark blotch around the anus.
Description Bathyraja papilionifera is a large deep-water skate with a chestnut-brown dorsal surface. Larger specimens may have small bluish-white spots on the disc. The underside is cream-white anteriorly and predominantly dark posteriorly, with a characteristic butterfly-shaped brown blotch surrounding the anus. The tail is predominantly dark brown.Stehmann, M. F. W. (1985). Ergebnisse der Forschungsreisen des FFS “Walther Herwig” nach Südamerika. LXIV. Bathyraja papilionifera sp. n. (Pisces, Batoidea, Rajidae), eine weitere neue Rochenart aus dem Südwestatlantik vom nordargentinischen Kontinentalabhang. Archiv für Fischereiwissenschaft, 36(1–2), 195–211. https://pecescriollos.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WH-64-Stehmann-1985-Bathyraja-papilionifera-sp-nov.pdf
Habitat The species was originally known from the continental slope off northern Argentina, at approximately 40° S, 56° W, where the type specimens were collected at depths of 660–1,040 m. Stehmann regarded it as a deep-water species and suggested that adults may occur at greater depths.
References
External links
Species Description of Bathyraja papilionifera at www.shark-references.com