CALIFORNIA FlijH AND GAME. D 



The Prickly Skate (Zapteryx exasperatus). 



The front margins of the disk are nndnhiting and together form 

 an angle less than a right angle. The snout is prominent bnt blunt at 

 the tip. The front of the first dorsal tin is only a little behind the hind 

 edge of the ventral tins. The upper surface of the body is covered with 

 close-set prickles of dift'erent sizes, rather than shagreen as in the next 

 species. There is a row of enlarged spines along the middle of the back 

 and the tail, and 2 short rows on each shoulder of 2 or 3 spines each. 

 There are no spines on the sides of the tail. The color is grayish 

 brown with indications of clouded crossbars. There is a large black 

 blotch on the lower surface of the pectoral at its hind end. 



This species has been recorded only from southern California, being 

 scarcely known outside of the bay of San Diego. Nearly 38 years ago, 

 when this fish was first described, males were reported to be abundant 

 in San Diego Bay. No female has ever been recorded until now. 

 Recently I was loaned twoyoung .specimens by Dr. Ritter of the Scripps 

 Laboratory at La Jolla, one of w^hich was a female. Aside from the 

 absence of claspers, it is identical in all of its characters with the male- 

 It is 7| inches long and is the specimen here figured. This species 

 reaches a length of nearly 3 feet, and appears to be very rare. 



The Round Skate (Platyrhinoidis triseriatus). 



This species may be known from the other members of its family by 

 the disk being rounded in front; the curve being unbroken by the snout. 

 The front of the first dorsal fin is nearer to the beginning of the caudal 

 fin than it is to the point where the ventral fin joins the body. Both 

 surfaces of the body are covered with shagreen. Coarse prickles follow 



Fig. 4. The roiiiul skate Platyrhinoidis iriseriatiis. Adult female. 



the front margin of the pectorals. There is a small bunch of spines at 

 the tip of the snout, and a few around the inner margin of the eye. A 

 long series of spines follows the middle line of the back and tail, and 

 a row at each side of it on the tail. There are 2 small bunches of spines 

 on each shoulder of 1 or 2 spines each. It is grayish brown in color. 



This species reaches a length of 2 feet, and is found in some abund- 

 ance in the bays on the coast below Point Concepcion. It has been 

 taken once or twice as far north as San Francisco. 



2—35303 



BURUNGAM£ 

 PUBLIC 



