2 54 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



One to three small thorns immediately in front of orbit, one being on the inner 

 and one or two on the outer margin, also one or two on inner rear margin of orbit, and 

 sometimes one or two opposite middle of orbit; these are the only thorns or prickles 

 on the disc; i 3 to 16 thorns along midline of tail from a little in advance of axils of 

 pelvics to first dorsal fin; three in interspace between first and second dorsals; also an 

 additional row of thorns, widely and unevenly spaced, on each side of median row, 

 beginning about opposite tip of pelvic and extending to opposite beginning of caudal 

 fin; dorsals and caudal smooth. Lower surface with a narrow band of small prickles 

 along anterior margin of disc from level of nostrils to tip of snout and also along rostral 

 cartilage. 



Snout in front of orbits 3.5-4.0 times as long as orbit, its length in front of mouth 

 2.2-2.3 tinges as great as distance between exposed nostrils. Orbit 1.9-2.2 times as 

 long as spiracle; distance between orbits i. 0-1.2 times as great as length of orbit. 

 Distance between first gill openings 1.7 times as great as distance between exposed 

 nostrils, between fifth gill openings i.o-i.i times; first gill openings 1.25 times as 

 long as fifth and about 0.25 as long as breadth of mouth. Nasal curtain fringed; ex- 

 panded posterior (outer) margins of nostrils fringed. Upper and lower jaws moderately 

 arched centrally. 



Teeth |^40) close-set in quincunx, ovate, with a triangular cusp. 



First and second dorsals similar in size and shape. Interspace between dorsals 

 0.9-1.0 as long as base of first dorsal. Caudal membrane from rear end of base of 

 second dorsal about twice as long as base of first dorsal. Pelvics deeply concave, strongly 

 scalloped along anterior side of excavation but only weakly so rearward; anterior margin 

 about as long as distance from its own origin to rear tip of pelvic; anterior lobe moder- 

 ately slender, including five radial cartilages besides the first stout one; posterior lobe 

 moderately convex outwardly; rear tips abruptly rounded, extending about 2/7 of the 

 distance from axils of pelvics toward first dorsal; inner margin straight. Claspers falling 

 well short of tips of pelvics on specimens seen. 



Rostral cartilage firm, extending to tip of snout. Anterior pectoral rays reaching 

 about halfway from level of front of orbits toward tip of snout. 



Color. In life, upper surface dark olive brown with many small roundish obscure 

 spots of darker brown on disc; a small dark spot, smaller than pupil, on each side 

 of disc inward near its center; series of small whitish pores extending in 3 or 4 rows 

 along midzone of back from region of pectoral girdle to axils of pelvics and onto tail 

 in I or 2 rows; 2 rows extending rearward and outward on each side of disc posterior 

 to scapular region; whitish pores also present opposite and in front of orbits, some 

 extending toward outer margin of disc in sinuous rows. Below, jet black everywhere, 

 but this pigment tending to diminish in intensity or disappear in preservative. 



Si-ze and Habits. Since all the males have very small claspers, it is probable that 

 the species attains at least a moderately large size, possibly two feet or more in total 

 length. Nothing is known of its habits except that it is apparently a moderately deep- 

 water species. 



