RAJIDAE i S 



Disc broader than long, its width § to more than § of the total length; anterior 

 margins a little undulated ; outer angles obtusely pointed, nearly forming right angles. 

 Vent much nearer to end of tail than to tip of snout. Snout acutely pointed, its length \ 

 (young) to more than \ width of disc and 2| (young) to 3! times diameter of eye + spiracle, 

 which is about equal to interorbital width. Internasal width about 2 in praeoral length 

 of snout. Mouth nearly straight ; teeth fairly close-set, with more or less pointed crowns ; 

 25 to 35 rows in the upper jaw. Upper surface mainly smooth, but both sexes sometimes 

 with a few scattered spines on the disc and on the rostral process, these being more 

 strongly developed in males; rostral process in large specimens more or less covered 

 with asperities; generally 1 (sometimes 3 to 5) strong praeocular spine, another above 

 the middle of the orbit, 1 postocular spine, and 1 or 2 smaller ones (absent in young) 

 above each spiracle ; a single strong median nuchal spine ; no scapular spines ; no median 

 spines on disc, but a series of 12 to 23 enlarged spines extending from opposite the 

 hinder angle of the pectoral fin to the first dorsal fin; all but very young specimens 

 with an irregular row of spines on each side of the median series on the tail, and 

 sometimes with a few additional spines at the edges of the tail ; a large male has a single 

 series of alar spines. Lower surface smooth, except for rough areas on rostral process 

 and on margins of snout ; these areas increase in size with age, and in large specimens 

 the whole lower surface of the snout is rough ; sometimes a few scattered buckler-like 

 spines on disc. Dorsal fins close to end of tail, separated by a spine. Brownish or 

 greyish; more or less uniform or with numerous indistinct pale spots; some larger 

 specimens with traces of a large circular ocellus near the middle of the base of each 

 pectoral ; lower surface yellow or white ; sometimes greyish ; terminal parts of lateral 

 line tubules pigmented, appearing as small blackish spots and streaks. 



Hab. Argentina; Patagonian-Falklands region; Straits of Magellan; Chile. 



In addition to the above, I have received a specimen of R. brevicaudata from Buenos 

 Aires (Marini). This is a male, 450 mm. in total length (width of disc 360 mm.). I have 

 been unable to examine any Chilean material of this long-snouted form, but have little 

 doubt that the specimens described here are identical with the large male and female 

 described by Philippi as Raja oxyptera and R. flavirostris respectively. R. flavirostris 

 is most nearly related to R. batis from Europe and South Africa and R. stabuliforis from 

 the east coast of North America. 



Raja doello-juradoi, Pozzi. (Plates II, III.) 1 

 1935. Physis, xi, p. 491. 



St. WS 98. 18. iv. 27. 49° 54' 15" S, 6o° 35' 30" W. Commercial otter trawl, 173-171 m.: 

 1 female specimen, 380 mm. (width of disc 280 mm.). 



St. WS215. 31.V. 28. 47 37' S, 6o° 50' W. Net (7 mm. mesh) attached to back of trawl, 

 219-146 m.: 1 male specimen, 100 m. (width of disc 60 mm.). 



1 This species had been described by me as new to science, but after this report had gone to press my 

 attention was drawn to Pozzi's preliminary description of what appears to be the same Ray. His specimens 

 were taken off the coast of northern Argentina (39" 12' S ; 56' oo° 06" W). He notes that R. doello-juradoi 

 differs from R. scabrata, Garman, principally "por el menor mimero de espinas de la serie dorsal; el mayor 

 mimero de los grandes aculeos supra-escapulares ; menor Iongitud del apendice caudal en funcion al tamano 

 del disco y coloration general". 



