An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyan fishes inhabiting the northern Gulf of Mexico Part 1: Batoidea Author Jones, Christian M. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories, 3209 Frederic Street, Pascagoula, Mississippi, U. S. A. Author Driggers Iii, William B. Author Hannan, Kristin M. Riverside Technologies Inc., Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories, 3209 Frederic Street, Pascagoula, Mississippi, U. S. A. kristin. hannan @ noaa. gov; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 2687 - 3331 Author Hoffmayer, Eric R. Author Jones, Lisa M. Author Raredon, Sandra J. Smithsonian Institution, Division of Fishes, Museum Support Center, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland, U. S. A. raredons @ si. edu; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 8295 - 6000 text Zootaxa 2020 2020-06-26 4803 2 281 315 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.4803.2.3 1175-5326 3909109 325DB7EF-94F7-4726-BC18-7B074D3CB886 Rajella purpuriventralis ( Bigelow and Schroeder, 1962 ) —purplebelly skate Synonyms: Dipturus purpuriventralis ( Bigelow and Schroeder, 1962 ) Malacoraja purpuriventralis ( Bigelow and Schroeder, 1962 ) Raja purpuriventralis Bigelow and Schroeder, 1962 Distribution. Distributed widely throughout the northern GOM from Port St. Joe, Florida to the Texas/ Mexico border in waters from approximately 730 to 2,010 m in depth. First Record in GOM. The description of this species ( Bigelow and Schroeder 1962 ) is based on a single specimen (USNM 196440, Figure 9 ) collected aboard the RV Oregon in 1959 from the north central GOM ( Bullis and Thompson 1965 ). Remarks. The biology of this species is very poorly known due to its depth preference being outside of the range of most fisheries and research operations, with most specimens collected being juveniles. However, recent expeditions conducted by NOAA in the northern GOM utilizing a ROV to explore deepwater habitats have captured videos of this species, including several of adults, leading to a greater understanding of their ontogenetic changes and habitat preferences (C. Jones unpublished data). Conservation Status. Least concern