Fishes of the JVestern North Atlantic 149 



long as distance between orbits; first and second dorsal 

 fins confluent, without interspace; dorsal surface of disc 

 not freckled with many small dark dots. 



Breviraja spinosa Bigelow and Schroeder 1950, p. 306. 

 lob. Snout anterior to orbits about ^-Ti times as long as dis- 

 tance between orbits; first and second dorsal fins separated 

 by a definite (though short) interspace with one thorn; 

 upper surface of disc closely freckled with small dark 

 brown dots. 



Breviraja yucatanensis Bigelow and Schroeder 1950, p. 310. 

 8 b. Firm rostral cartilage reaching nearly to extreme tip of snout. 

 1 1 a. No large thorns on posterior V4~V3 of t^'l- 



Raja senta Garman 1885, p. 264.*' 

 I lb. One or more rows of thorns along posterior part of tail as well 

 as farther forward along it. 



12 a. No large thorns anywhere on disc between nuchal region 

 and level of axils of pectorals, except for alar spines of 

 sexually mature males. 



1 3 a. Upper surface of pectorals smooth, without prickles. 

 14 a. First and second dorsals confluent. 



Raja teevani Bigelow and Schroeder 1951, 



p. 276. 

 14 b. First and second dorsals separated by a 

 definite interspace. 



15 a. Lower surface with a band of prickles 

 along anterior edge of disc and along 

 rostral cartilage; distance between dor- 

 sals about as long as base of first dorsal ; 

 outer margin of nostril lobe fringed. 

 Raja olseni Bigelow and Schroeder 

 1951, p. 251. 

 15b. Lower surface smooth everywhere; dis- 

 tance between dorsals less than half as 

 long as base of first dorsal ; outer mar- 

 gin of nostril lobe smooth. 



Raja laevis Mitchill I 8 1 7 ; 

 newly hatched, p. 217. 

 1 3 b. Upper surface of pectorals rough with close-set 

 prickles except along outer margins. 



Raja spinicauda Jensen 19 14, p. 271. 



61. Newly born R. senta may have thorns on the posterior part of the tail, and thus fail under alternative 7b; see p. 266, 

 footnote 138. 



