Listing Notice (8 March 2004)

2 Species added to Threatened Species List

***Raja sp. L (Maugean Skate) as Endangered

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1. RAJA SP. L (MAUGEAN SKATE)

Raja sp. L was recently discovered in Tasmania in 1988 by Dr.Graham Edgar of the University of Tasmania. It is confined to the upper reaches of two biologically unique estuarine systems (Bathurst and Macquarie Harbours in western Tasmania) in habitat characterised by low nutrient and low salinity waters. As such, it is the only non- marine skate known of the 400 or so skates throughout the world. The estuaries are small systems in the national and global context and the area of habitat available to the species within them is confined to a small fraction (10%) of the area, making the geographic range of this species highly restricted.

Initial investigations by Dr Graham Edgar indicate that the species may be a Gondwanan relict and the oldest lineage of skate in the world, with its closest relatives in southern New Zealand (the rough skate Raja nasuta) and Patagonia.

Despite multiple surveys over many years, no specimens have been found in any other Tasmanian estuaries or adjacent coastal areas.

Raja sp. L is nominated for listing as endangered. The area of occupancy for Raja sp. L is estimated to be only 100km2. Field surveys have recorded that Raja sp. L is only located in Bathurst and Macquarie Harbours and that the estimated population of the species for the two estuaries is only in the order of 1000 individuals. The estuaries are precarious for the survival of the species because they are biologically unique systems which share unusual characteristics of highly stratified, low salinity and low nutrient waters in a low flushing environment.

The species is at risk from various impacts in both environments. The species is eligible for listing as endangered under criteria 2 and 3.