18. KHINOBA.TID^. — RIIINOBATUS. 37 



34.— PRISTIS LaMuuu, 1794. 



Saw-Jishes. 



(Latham, Trans. Liuii. Soc. ii, p. 27() : type SquuluH jyrintis L. =Pm<)s aniiquorum 

 Latham.) 



The characters of the genus are included above. {-i>i(7rr,-^ the ancient 



name of the saw-fish, from -piatr,-.^ a saAvyer.) 



44. P. aiBtiqiioriini Latham. — Saw-Jish. 



Anterior dorsal opposite ventrals; caudal fin without lower lobe 5 ros- 

 tral teeth in 1(3 to 20 i)airs, nearly equidistant, stout, provided with a 

 cutting anterior edge ; the size of the teeth subject to considerable vnria- 

 tions; caudal fin without lower lobe ; color grayish. Length 10 to 15 feet. 

 Atlantic Ocean ; common on both shores, especially southward ; probably 

 entering rivers. 



{Sqitaliis jyristis L. Syst. NaturiB : Pristis (uitiqiionim Latliam, Trans. Linn. Soc. 1794, 

 ii, 297; Gunther, viii, 438.) 



Family XVIII— RHINOBATID^ • 



{The Lono -nosed Bays.) 



Shark-like rays. Trunk gradually passing into the long and strong 

 tail, which is provided with two well-developed dorsal fins, a caudal fin 

 and a conspicuous dermal fold on each side ; disk not broad, the rayed 

 portion of the pectoral fins not being continued to the snout ; no conspic- 

 uous spines, the skin being nearly smooth ; no electric organs. Genera 

 3 to 5 ; species about 15 ; inhabiting warm seas. The form of the body 

 is as much shark-like as is that of the shark Squatina. {Rhinohatidcc Giin- 

 ther, viii, 440-148.) 



"First dorsal much hcliind tlic ventrals; anterior nasal valves not eonllnent. 



Rhinobatus, 35. 



35.— RIIIIVOBATUS Hloeh & Schneider, 1801. 



(Schneider cd. Bloch, Ichthy. : type HhhiolMliin rhinolxtlux Hloeh 4?C S(hneider=7i/n'«o- 

 halus (jrannlatuH Cnv.) 



Body depressed, gradually passing into the tail. Cranial cartilage 

 produced into a h)ng rostral ])ro('ess, the space between the ]»r()cess and 

 the pectoral fin beiug tilled by membrane. Sj»ini(des wide, behind the 

 eye*, nostrils oblique, wide; anterior valves not confiuent. Teeth ob- 

 tuse, with an indistinct transverse ridge. Dorsal lins witliout spine; 

 both at a great distance behind the ventral fins, ('audal lin without 

 lower lobe, [invf)^ a shark, Squatina; fiaro':, a skate.) 



