732 PLAGIOSTOMATA— BATOIDEI. 



outer angles of the nostrik equals If in the preoral length of the snout : the length of the nostrils about equals 

 the distance their bases are asunder. Rostral ridges divergent posteriorly, becoming confluent in their anterior 

 half or 2/3. Teeth — transversely oval with a slight ridge along the centre : the width oi the plate above the 

 symphysis of both jaws being 1/8 of its length : 70/66 rows of teeth : and fifteen vertical rows in the median 

 line in either jaw. The dental plate almost straight. Fins — The two dorsals of about the same size, their 

 distance asunder equalling the interspace between the second dorsal and base of the caudal : the latter 

 being 7i to 8^ in the total length. Scales — are somewhat trefoil-shaped and flattened, being rather largest 

 along the median line of the back, which, however, is not spined, although a few tubercles almost form spines. 

 Colours — reddish-gray superiorly, becoming white beneath : fins and snout with a reddish tinge. Large 

 examples have occasionally black blotches over them. 



Habitat. — From the Mediterranean, West coast of Africa and Cape of Good Hope : also from the Red 

 Sea through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China. It attains at least six feet in length. 

 The example figured was from Mangalore. 



2. Rhinobatus granulatus, Plate CXCll, fig. 2. 



Shirwbatus rhinohatus, Bl. Schn. p. 353. 



Baja, Russell, Fish. Vizag. p. 7, and Suttiwarah, pi. xi. 



Bhinobatm gramilatus, Cnv. Rfegn. Anim. ; Miill. and Henle, Plagiost. p. 117, t. xxxviii ; Bleeker, Beng. 

 p. 82 ; Blyth, J. A. S. of Beng. 1860, p. 36 ; Dumeril, Hist. Nat. Poiss. i, p. 493 ; Gunther, Catal. viii, p. 443. 



Bhinohatm a/rmatus. Gray and Hardw. 111. Ind. Zool. ; Miill. and Henle, Plagiost. p. 119 ; Bleeker, 

 Beng. p. 82, and Plagiost. p. 60 ; Dumeril, 1. c. p. 494. 



Bhirtobatus tuberculatus (Cuvier), Bleeker, Beng. p. 82. 



Bhinobatus typus, Bennett, Life of Sir S. Raffles, p. 694. 



Pw-rwn-gmi, Tamil ; Otm-da-ree, Sind. ; Gna-man-haing, Burmese. 



Snout elongate, its length beiug from 4i to 5\ in the total, and as a rule being longest in the immature : 

 the width of the interorbital space varies from 2^ to 3^ in the length of the snout. Anterior nasal valve with 

 no lateral dilatation. The distance between the external angles of the nostrils equals about 2/3 or 3/5 in the 

 preoral portion of the snout : the two rostral ridges narrow and closely approximating in their anterior half or 

 two-thirds : mouth transverse. Teeth — 42/32, dental plate with a central and lateral elevation in the lower, 

 with corresponding depressions in the upper jaw : 20/22 vertical rows in the upper and 13 in the lower jaw 

 opposite the symphysis. Scales — tubercles on the back, and a row of compressed spines along its middle, which 

 become obsolete with age : some spines on the edge of the orbit and on the shoulder. In the young a row 

 likewise along either side of the upper edge of rostral ridge. Odours — reddish-gray superiorly, becoming dull- 

 white beneath. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and Australia. It attains at least seven feet in length. 

 The example figured was from Malabar. 



3. Rhinobatus Thouini, Plate CXC, fig. 4. 



Baie Thouin, Lacepede, i, p. 134, pi. i, f. 3-5. 

 Baja Thouiniana, Shaw, Zool. v, 2, p. 318, pi. cxlvii, f. 2. 



Bhinobatus Thoidni, Mviller and Henle, Plagiost. p. 120 ; Dumeril, Hist. Nat. Poissons, i, p. 500, pi. x, 

 f. 2 {snout) : Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 442. 



Bhinobatus Ugonifer, Cantor, Catal. p. 415, pi. xiv ; Bleeker, Plagiost. p. 59. 



Snout of moderate extent, equalling five or six in the total length : the width of the interorbital space 

 equals 2f in the length of the snout. Anterior nasal valves not dilated laterally. The distance between the 

 outer angles of the nostrils equals 2/3 of the letigth of the preoral portion of the snout : the length of the 

 nostrils is more than twice the extent their bases are apart. Mouth straight. Rostral ridges confluent in 

 almost their entire length. Teeth — small, upwards of one hundred rows in either jaw. Fins — the two dorsals 

 of about the same size, high and pointed, the first if laid flat nearly reaching the base of the second dorsal : 

 caudal 6|- in the total. Scales — skin granulated with a row of compressed spines along the middle of the back 

 and smaller ones over the shoulders and above the eyes. Colours — brown, becoming yellowish-white beneath. 



Habitat. — From the Red Sea (Dumeril, 1. c.) through those of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



This species attains to 6^ feet in length, according to Bleeker. The example figured is a skin 4^ feet 

 long from the Andamans, and the only specimen I procured in the East. 



