liAIA NITIDA. 363 



Raia platana. 



Rata platana Gunthbb, 1880, Challenger rept. Zool., 1, p. 11, pi. 3; Berg., 1895, An. Mus. dm. Argent., 



sor. 2, 4, p. 13; Eyermann & Kendall, 1906, Proc. U. S. nut. mus., 31, p. 69. 



Disk rhomboid, length of body about two thirds of its width, anterior and 

 hinder angles little more than 90°, hinder angles broadly rounded, anterior 

 margins nearly straight. Snout long, produced, pointed. Mouth strongly 

 curved, width half length of snout; teeth pointed, in about 48 rows. Ventrals 

 deeply notched, forward portion toothed on the edge; claspers of male, slender, 

 pointed. Tail moderate, nearly as long as the disk, produced behind the dorsals, 

 which latter are separated by a space with a spine. Upper parts smooth, except- 

 ing minute spines along each side of the snout and above the eyes, a row of small 

 tubercles distally on the median line of the tail, and, on males, the bands of tena- 

 cula near the outer angles of the pectorals. Total length 25, snout to vent 13j, 

 and greatest width 21 inches. In the figure the tail is longer than the body. 



Brownish above ; whitish below. 



Mouth of La Plata River, in 13 fathoms. 



South African to New Zealand species. 

 Raia nitida. 



Raia nitida Gunther, 1880, Challenger rept. Zool., 1, p. 27, pi. 14, fig. A.; Macleay, 1884, Proc. Linn, 

 soc. N. S. Wales, 9, p. 63. 



Disk subcircular, broader than long, anterior angle blunt, outer angles and 

 margins broadly rounded. Snout with a thin projection. Width of interorbital 

 space less than length of orbit. Internarial width less than distance from end of 

 snout. Teeth almost obtuse (juv.). Upper parts covered with minute spines; 

 one or two curved spines in front of the orbit and one or two behind it, one on the 

 middle of the back, and a series along the median line of the tail. Tail longer 

 than body, extended behind second dorsal. 



Above light brownish marbled with dark brown blotches bearing small 

 round yellowish ocelli. 



Type a male in total length 8, tail 4|, and greatest width 5 inches, from 

 Twofold Bay, southern Australia, in 120 fathoms. 



