150 ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS, FISHES JORDAN AND BOLLMAN. 



1. Raja equatorialis sp. nov. 



Diagnosis. — Related to Raja inomata Jordan and Gilbert, from which 

 it is at once distinguished by having four rows of spines below eyes, a 

 series of stout spines on each side of tail in the male and no prickles on 

 back except the median series and the spine on each shoulder. The 

 size is much smaller (length, 14 inches), it being one of the smallest of 

 the rays. 



Type: No. 41,1.32, U. S. National Museum. 



Hab. — Pacific Ocean, off coast of the United States of Colombia. 

 8°0G'30" N.; 78° 51/ W. 



Description. — Disk to posterior base of pectorals one-third broader 

 than long, the breadth exceeding the length by a distance equal to 

 snout and eye ; the breadth somewhat longer than length of tail (meas- 

 ured from vent) ; anterior margin concave in front of eyes. Snout 

 produced at a rather acute angle, its tip rounded, its length from eye 

 3| in length of disk. Interorbital space rather strongly concave, 

 its width 2§ in snout. Eye not much larger than spiracles, 3 in 

 snout. Width of mouth 11 in prenasal part of head ; nasal flaps at 

 angle of mouth deeply fringed. Pectorals reaching middle of ventrals, 

 which are as long as from tip of snout to posterior border of spiracle. 

 Claspers in typical example If- in disk. Dorsals small, their length 2 

 in snout. Caudal small, not longer than eye. Snout'above, with two 

 rows of spines besides smaller asperities ; a row of about 12 before and 

 above eye and spiracle ; a row of strong spines along line of back 

 from posterior border of spiracle to second dorsal, these alternately 

 large and small on the tail ; a row of similar spines on each side of tail 

 commencing just behind posterior base of ventrals and extending to 

 caudal; a single spine on the shoulder on each side; four or five ir- 

 regular rows near the anterior margin of the disk opposite the eyes; 

 the length of this patch not as long as snout. Pectorals with the 

 usual strong retrorse spines characteristic of the males of this genus. 

 Small prickles present along the outer anterior margin of pectorals, 

 interorbital area, on top of snout and along its margin for a distance 

 equal to three-fourths of snout and beneath from tip to opposite pos- 

 terior teeth, the anterior prickles strongest; a small patch in front 

 of eyes. Teeth |f . 



Color, light brown, spotted with paler; the back with obscure reticu- 

 lationsof the groundcolor, forming honey-comb like markings, surrouud- 

 ingpaler, an obscure roundish dusky blotch at middle of base of pectorals, 

 and a darker one near their posterior base. Edges of ventrals, pectorals, 

 and snout pale. Dark markings on interorbital area and below eye. No 

 markings below. 



This species is known from a single male specimen 14 inches in length 

 dredged at ;i depth of 33 fathoms, at station 2797, off the west coast of 

 Colombia, between Panama and the Galapagos Islands. 



