40 CHONDHOPTEBTGII. BATOIDET. 



1. Genus RHYNCHOBATUS, Miiller & Henle. 

 Syn. Rhina, sp., and Rhinobatiw, sp., Bl. Schn. ; Rhamphobatis, Gill. 

 Body depressed and elongated. Gill-openings inferior, narrow, 

 and inside the base of the pectoral fin. Spiracles wide and 

 behind the eyes, which latter have no nictitating membrane ; 

 snout rather elongated and acute ; nostrils inferior, oblique, wide 

 slits. Teeth obtuse, ridged ; the dentary plate having an undu- 

 lated surface. Dorsal fins spineless, the first opposite the ventrals ; 

 front edge of pectoral free, not extending to the head ; caudal 

 with a well-marked lower lobe. 



Geographical Distribution. From the Red Sea and east coast of 

 Africa through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 China. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Snout elongated ; few tubercles or spines on 



head or body. A black shoulder-spot and 



numerous white spots on upper surface 1. R. djeddensis, p. 40. 

 Snout broad, having a semicircular outline. 



Rows of large tubercles and spines on 



head and trunk. Brown 2. R. ancylostomus, p. 41. 



42. (1.) Rhynchobatus djeddensis. (Fig. 16.) 

 Raja djiddensis, Forsk. Descrip. Anim. p. 18. 

 Rhynchobatus djeddensis, Day, Fish. India, p. 730, pi. cxcii, fig. 1 



(see synon.). 



Walawah Tenkee, Nul Ulavi, or Tipi Ulavi, Tel. ; Rdnja, Marathi ; 

 Paluiiga or Parangan, Tarn. 



Snout elongated, the distance between the mouth and end of 

 snout equals one fourth to one fifth of the entire length excluding 



Fig. l. Rhynchobatus djeddensis. 

 the caudal fin, being shortest in adults. Eyes rather large ; the 

 spiracle close behind the orbit. Teeth oval, wider than broad, 

 with a horizontal cusp across the centre of each ; ^~& twenty 

 to twenty-five vertical rows across the middle of both jaws. Dental 

 plate with a central and a smaller lateral elevation ; corresponding 

 emarginations exist in the upper jaw. Fins the first dorsal 



