New record and range extension of the Deepsea Skate, Bathyraja abyssicola (Chondrichthyes: Arhynchobatidae), in the Galapagos Islands

Skates are a diverse group within the chondrichthyans and comprise a large component of the bycatch in many
demersal fisheries. The distribution of the Deepsea Skate, Bathyraja abyssicola, is presently known to be limited
to the northern temperate Pacific Ocean. We filmed B. abyssicola from a remote operated vehicle during surveys
undertaken on a seamount located north of Darwin Island within the Galapagos Marine Reserve in 2015. This
sighting represents the first record of B. abyssicola in the Galapagos Marine Reserve and the first record of the
species from anywhere in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. The large range extension of this species to tropical
low-latitude waters of the Pacific Ocean is a critical contribution to conservation biology of this poorly known
species, especially since deepwater skates and rays are generally over-exploited. This new record also highlights
our limited knowledge of unique deepwater ecosystems in general and those of the Galapagos Islands in particular.