FISHES OF THE PHILIPPIXE ISLANDS AND ADJACENT SEAS 331 



dorsal space 3% to 5% in space between hind base of ventral and 

 first dorsal origin. Second dorsal l%o to 2 in height, reaching to or 

 beyond caudal origin. Tail longer than disk, with broad cutaneous 

 fold along each side of tail and reaches caudal base. 

 Color uniform brown, with pale anterior margin. "Wliite below. 

 Length, 406 to 517 mm., width of disk, 197 to 269 mm. (Tang.) 

 China. Related to Platyrhina sinensh, which differs in the shorter 

 snout, space between spiracles less than 2 in preorbital, first dorsal 

 origin nearer ventral base than caudal origin, longer interdorsal 

 space 21/2 to 3 in space between ventral base and first dorsal origin ; 

 first dorsal fin % interdorsal space; smooth teeth granular; prickles 

 fewer; only 3 spines on each supraorbital ridge, 2 pairs on shoulder 

 but without smaller ones on its lateral border, single row on back 

 and tail, 2 on interdorsal space; spines in cephalothoracic region 

 embedded in whitish or light yellow spots. 



Genus ARHYNCHOBATIS Waite 



Arhijnchohatis Waite, Rec. Canterbury Mus., vol. 1, No. 2, p. 20, 1909. (Type, 

 ArhynchoMfis asperrimus Waite, montypic.) 



Body and head depressed as rounded disk, little shorter than tail. 

 Tail long, depressed, slender, with fold each side. Cranium without 

 cartilaginous rostral prolongation. Each nostril with two valves, 

 anterior tubelike, posterior triangular and latter pair joined me- 

 dially. Skin with small spines or thorns. One dorsal, near end of 

 tail. Caudal well developed. Pectorals continuous in front, modi- 

 fied to form small nasal tip. Ventrals distinct from pectorals, deeply 

 notched. 



ARHYNCHOBATIS ASPERRIMUS Waite 



Arkj/nchobatis asperrmus Waite, Eec. Canterbury Mus., vol. 1, No. 2, p. 150, 

 pi. 20, 1909 (type locality: Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, in 66-94 fathoms) ; 

 vol. 1, No. 4, p. 316, 1912 (reference). — Gakman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 

 vol. 36, p. 292, 1913 (compiled).— Fowlek, Proc. 4th (1929) Pacific Sci. 

 Congr., Java, p. 499, 1930 (reference). 



Head to hind spiracle edge 6% in total length. Snout ly^ in head 

 to hind spiracle edge; orbit 4i^, 3l^ in snout, 2i/2 in interorbital ; 

 mouth width ly^ in snout, but slightly undulated; teeth small, with- 

 out cusps; nasal flap triangular, deeply notched medially to form 

 2 triangles, each slightly fimbriate at apex; interorbital 1% in head 

 to hind spiracle edge. Spiracle close behind eye, posterior edge of 

 valve pilose. Gill openings moderate, convergent posteriorly. 



Skin everywhere covered with closely set spines ; thorns in area be- 

 tween eyes and spiracles, hind ones largest; transverse patch of large 

 thorns on humeral region, median row extended forward short space ; 

 tail with row of strong conic thorns in midline and several irregular 

 series of smaller ones each side extending forward into pelvic region ; 



