Fishes of the lVester?2 North Atlantic 289 



Teeth about 4^; close-set in transverse series in both sexes, with low conical 

 cusp on females and immature males. 



First and second dorsals similar in shape, the base' of first about i.i — 1.3 times 

 as long as base of second. Interspace between first and second dorsals increasing in 

 relative length from about 40 % ^s long as base of first dorsal on very young specimens 

 to about as long as base of first dorsal on large. Caudal membrane about as long as base 

 of second dorsal. Pelvics deeply concave outwardly and scalloped around the inden- 

 tation; anterior margin slightly shorter to slightly longer than distance from its own 

 origin to rear tip of pelvic; anterior lobe narrowing to a pointed tip, with 2-3 radials 

 besides the first and stoutest; outer margin of posterior lobe rather strongly convex 

 and weakly scalloped, rear tip well rounded, reaching back about Vi the distance from 

 level of axils of pectorals toward first dorsal. Claspers of mature males not seen. 



Rostral cartilage narrow, extending about 75 "/o of distance from front of cranium 

 toward tip of snout; anterior rays of pectorals about 85—90 "/o of that distance. 



Color. Upper surface of disc, pelvics, and tail pale pinkish brown without dis- 

 tinctive markings; dorsals and caudal membrane pale and translucent on newborn 

 specimens but soon turning brownish black and thus becoming conspicuous; lateral 

 folds on tail transparent anteriorly but brownish black posteriorly to second dorsal. 

 Lower surface plain whitish on small specimens, later becoming clouded with chocolate 

 brown; darkest on abdomen and anterior lobes of pelvics while remaining whitish on 

 median region of head from snout to first gill openings; anterior part of tail opposite 

 pelvics with a chocolate blotch on large specimens. 



Size. The claspers of a male 225 mm long still fall short of the tips of the pelvics, 

 making it likely that this Skate does not mature until larger than other known species 

 of its genus; the size at maturity is not known. 



Developmental Stages. The eggs have not been seen. 



Habits. The facts that the three specimens seen so far were trawled by the Atlantis 

 at 250—500 fathoms and that none were taken in the many shoaler hauls around Cuba 

 show that it is a deep-water species. 



Range. Known only off the north central coast of Cuba. 



Reference : 



Breviraja atrtpinna Bigelow and Schroeder, Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv., JOJ (7), 1950: 390 (descr., ills., 

 depth, ofF N. Central Cuba). 



Breviraja colesi Bigelow and Schroeder 1948 

 Figures 62 (upper right), 64, 65 



Study Material. Four males and four females, 81— 333 mm long, including the 

 type,^ trawled by the research vessel Atlantis off the north and south coasts of Cuba, 

 in the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. 



3. Type specimen, a female 333 mm long (Harv. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. 36374). 



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