224 



CHECK-LIST OF THE FISH AND FISH-LIKE ANIMALS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



XVI. 



Family Pristiophoridae. 



26. Pristiophorlis Mull. & Henle, Arch. Naturg. iii. 1, 1837, p. 399 (cirratus). 



26a. P. cirratus. Saw Shark. Pristis cirratus Latham, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., ii., 1794, p. 281. 



pis. 26, 5 & 27. (The figure on PI. xvii. represents a closely allied species P. nudipinnis). 

 Very common, and growing to about four feet long. The toothed blade which forms the snout is 

 an effective weapon of attack among the schools of herring and other small fishes upon which these 

 sharks feed. The young are born alive, and have the teeth of the snout laid flat against the sides so 

 as to avoid injury to the mother. 



XVII. 



Family Squatinidae. 



27. Squatina Dumeril, Zool. Analyt., 1806, pp. 102, 342 (angelus). 



27a. S. australis. Angel Shark. Id. Regan, A.M.N. H. (7) xviii., 1906, p. 438 ; Rhina squatina 



McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict., dec. iv., 1879, pi. 34. (PI. xvii.). 

 Common, and reaching a length of about five feet. It feeds upon crabs and shell-fish, etc., and 

 produces its young alive. The body is depressed and flat, like that of a ray, but the gill-openings are 

 on the sides as in the sharks. 



RAYS— Order BATOIDEI. 



Key to the Families of Rays recorded from New South Wales. 



A. Snout produced into a saw-like blade. 

 AA. Snout not saw-like. 



B. Head without free horn-like fins. 

 C. Caudal fin large, tail stout. 



D. Electric organs abs lit or incipient, skin scaly. 

 DD. Electric organs present, skin soft and naked. 



CC. Caudal fin smaller or absent, tail more slender. 



E. Tail without a serrated spine. 



EE. Tail usually with a serrated spine. 

 F. Teeth small and numerous. 

 FF. Teeth few, large, flat and tessellated. 

 BB. Head with two horn-like fins. 



XVIII. Family Pristidae. 



28. Pristis Linck, Mag. Neue. Phys. Naturg., vi., 1790, p. 31 (pristis) 



Pristtdae (xviii. 



Rhinobatidac (xix.). 

 Narcobatidae (xx.). 



Rajidae (xxi.). 



Dasyatidae (xxii.i. 

 Myliobatidae (xxiii:). 



MobitHdac (xxiv.). 



28a. P. zysron. Sawfish. Id. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiv., 1851, p. 55; Id. Day, Fish. 

 India, 1878, p. 729, pi. 191, 2. (PI. xvii.). 



Grows to 20 feet long, and is much dreaded because of fearful injuries it inflicts with lateral strokes 

 of its powerful " saw." It is widely distributed, and is occasionally taken in estuaries on our coast. 



XIX. 



Family Rhinobatidae. 



A. Dorsal opposite the ventrals, a subcaudal lobe ; body ornate. 

 AA. Dorsal behind the ventrals ; no subcaudal lobe. 



B. Snout long, sharply-pointed and shovel-shaped ; body plain coloured. 



BB. Snout shorter, obtuse ; body ornate. 



Rhynchobatus (29). 



Rhinobatus (30). 

 Trygonorhina (31). 



29. Rhynchobatus Mull. & Henle, Arch. Naturg. iii. 1, 1837, p. 399 (laevis). 



29a. R. djiddensis. White-spotted Ray. Raja djiddexsis Forskal, Descr. Anim. 

 p. 18 ; R. djeddensis Day, Fish. India, 1878, p. 730. pi. 192, 1. (PI. xvii.). 



Grows to seven feet long, and is said to be not uncommon. 



'775 



