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



XXII. Family Dasyatidae. 



A. Tail Ions and whip-like, no caudal fin. 

 B. Tail with keels or folds. 



C. IVntal surface of jaws straight or undulous, back more or less smooth, tail-folds narrow. Dasyatit i |6), 



CC. Dental surface of upper jaw angular, back with rough scales, a broad fold below lie fail. Pastinackus (37). 



BB. Tail without keels or folds. Himanlura (38J. 



AA. Tail moderate or short. 



D. Disc subcircular. tail stout, caudal fin present. I'rolcphus (39). 



DD. Disc very wide, angular: tail slender, no caudal fin. Pleroplatea [40). 



36. Dasvatis Rafinesque, Caratt. Gen. Spec. Sicilia, 1910, p. 16 (ujo). 



A. Tail with a smail fold above as well as below. 



B. Scapular region smooth, or with spines on median line only : upper surface with blue spots. kuhlii (36a). 

 BB. Scapular region with a broad patch of tubercles ; upper surface uniformly coloured. fluviorum [36b). 



AA. Tail with a fold below, none above. 



C. Back smooth or with isolated tubrclcs. brevicaudatus (36c). 

 CC. Back with numerous tubercles. thetidis ( 3 f» d ) . 



36a. D. kuhlii. Blue-spotted Stingaree. Trygon kuhlii Mull. & Henle, Plagiost, 1838, 



p. 164, pi. 51, 2. 

 A tropical species, once recorded from the Parramatta River estuary. 



j6b 1'. fluviorum. Estuary Stingaree. Id. Ogilby, P. Roy. Soc. QUI. x\i., 1908, p. 6; Id. 

 McCul., Biol. Res. Endeavour iii. 3, 1915, p. 103, pi. 16, 1. (PI. xviii.). 



Grows to about one foot wide. Like all other Sting Rays, this species can inflict dangerous wounds 

 with its barbed spine, which often causes blood-poisoning. 



36c. I). brevicaudatus. Smooth Stingaree. Trygon brevicaudatus Hutton. A.M.N.H. (4) 

 xvi., 1875, p. 317 ; D. brevicaudatus McCul., Biol. Res. Endeavour iii. 3, 1915. p. 102, pi. 

 15, 1. (PI. xviii.). 



Not uncommon in deeper water, occasionally wandering into harbours and estuaries. Grows 

 to at least four feet wide. 



36d. D. thetidis. Black Stingaree. Id. (Ogilby) Waite, Mem. Austr. Mus., iv. 1, 1899, p. 4(1. 

 A little-known, though apparently common species in our deeper waters, and growing to over 

 four feet in width. 



37. PASTINACHOS Kuppell, Atl. Reise Nordl. Afrika. 182S, p. 51 (sephen). 



37a. P. sephen. Fantailed Ray. Raja sephen Forskal, Descr. Anim., 1775, p. 18; Trygon 

 sephen Day, Fish. India, 1878, p. 740, pi. 195, 2. (PI. xviii.). 



A tropical species, apparently common in the northern waters of the State. Indian specimens 

 have measured nearly six feet across the disc. 



38. Himantura Mull. & Henle, Arch. Naturg. 111. I., 1837, p. 400 [uarnak). 



}8a. H. uarnak. Coachwhip Ray. Raja uarnak Forsk., Descr. Anim., 1775, p. 18; Trygon 



urn mik Day, Fish. India, 1878, p. 737, pi. 194, 1. (PI. xviii.). 

 A tropical species, once recorded from the Clarence estuary. Grows to live feet wide, and is 

 capable of inflicting very dangerous wounds with its spine. 



59. Urolophus Mull. & Henle. Arch. Xat. iii. I., 1837, P- 4°° (cruciatus). 

 A. Tail shorter than its distance trom the mouth. aunntiacw (39a). 



AA. Tail longer than its distance from the mouth. 



1'.. Ititcrnasal valve broadly fringed posteriorly : nostrils with broad posterior lobes ; 



tail without lateral folds. 1,-slaceus l.iob). 



BB. Internasal valve with only a narrow fringe or lobules posteriorly ; nostrils without broad p tsterior lob 



C. Papillae behind lower jaw fewer, back uniform. viridii 



CC. Papillae behind lower jaw numerous, back white-speckled. buccultntus. (;od). 



