Morfología del sistema mecanosensorial de la línea lateral de Zearaja chilensis (Batoidea: Rajidae) Morphology of the mechanosensory system of the lateral line system in Zearaja chilensis (Batoidea: Rajidae)

The mechanosensory system of the lateral line in Zearaja chilensis, is composed by a series of sensory canals located at both the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the body, being in the latter where the canals are more abundant. The hyomandibular canal is the most complex due to its distribution and extension, showing changes in its morphology at the dorsal and ventral body sides. The present study of the mechanosensory system of Z. chilensis, will help to increase the morphological knowledge about the sensory system of this otherwise scarcely studied species, among Chilean batoids, allowing further taxonomic and systematic comparative studies and providing ways to new behavioral and physiological studies including other cartilaginous fishes not only from Batoidea, but also from Squalomorphii and Holocephalii taxa.