Molecular systematics of the skate subgenus Arctoraja (Bathyraja: Rajidae) and support for an undescribed species, the leopard skate, with comments on the phylogenetics of Bathyraja

Sequence variability in the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene from 226 samples of the species previously considered Bathyraja parmifera (Rajidae) revealed three distinct haplotypes, one of which represents an undescribed species, the leopard skate. Further genetic examination of four closely related North Pacific and Bering Sea skate species, Bathyraja parmifera, B. simoterus, B. smirnovi, and the leopard skate in comparison with 19 related species indicates that together these four species comprise the subgenus Arctoraja. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Arctoraja is monophyletic, but that the genus Bathyraja may be paraphyletic due to the phylogenetic position of Rhinoraja.