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BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
bb. Tail with a dermal fold above and below, both of about equal size, color of folds black; the 
disk rather narrower than in americana, little broader than long, its length about 1.1 in its 
width, the outline of the disk meeting at snout at an angle of about 120°; no light-colored 
spot on middle of forehead say, p. 66 
bbb. Tail with a dermal fold above and below, the lower one the larger, the color of the folds 
brownish to yellowish, the lower one always of light color; disk still narrower, the length 
about equal to the width; snout more pointed than in related species, the outline of the disk 
meeting anteriorly at an angle of about 90°; no light-colored spot in the middle of the 
forehead sabina, p. 67 
18. Dasyatis centrura (Mitchill). Sting ray; Stingaree. 
Raja centrura Mitchill, Trans., Lit. Philo. Soc., N. Y., I, 1815, p. 479; New York. 
Trygon centrura Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 187; ed. II, p. 158. 
Dasyatis centrura Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 83. 
Dasybatus marinus Garman, 1913, p. 382, pi. 33, figs. 1 and 2. 
Disk quadrangular, notably broader than long, its length about 1.25 in its width, antero- 
lateral margins concave opposite the eyes, convex toward the slightly protruding snout, the outer 
angles rounded, the postero-lateral margins little convex; mouth arched forward, with five papillae 
at base of lower jaw; teeth blunt, arranged in pavement; tail more than twice the length of the 
disk, bearing one or more strong, serrated spines, with a broad winglike expansion below but none 
above; young smooth, adults with conically pointed, broad-based tubercles on the middle and 
hinder parts of the back and on the top and sides of the tail, very old examples with still more 
numerous spines and tubercles on the back. Color dark brown above, pale underneath. 
This ray was not taken in Chesapeake Bay during the present investigation and no specimens 
are at hand. The above description was compiled from published accounts. This species may 
be distinguished from all the others of the Chesapeake region by the entire absence of a fin fold 
on the dorsal surface of the tail, posterior to the large, serrated spine or spines, and by the prominent 
expansion of the fold below the tail. The tail appears to be longer than in related species, equaling 
more than twice the length of the disk. 
The food of this ray no doubt is similar to that of related species, as it has the same type of 
teeth, which are suitable for crushing hard objects, such as the shellfishes. This ray appears to 
reach a larger size than the related rays, a length of about 12 feet from snout to tip of tail having 
been reported. 
This ray probably is rare in Chesapeake Bay. It is included here on the strength of the 
following statement by Uhler and Lugger (1876, p. 187): “Common on the coast of Worcester 
County and around the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.” 
Habitat. — Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea (Garman, 1913). On the American coast 
from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: Around the mouth of Chesapeake Bay (Uhler 
and Lugger, 1876). (6) Specimens in the present collection: None. 
19. Dasyatis americana sp. nov. Sting ray; Stingaree. 
Dasibatis hastata Garman, in Jordan and Gilbert, Bull. U. S.Nat. Mus., XVI, 1882 (1883), p. 70. Not of De Kay, which herein 
is understood to be equivalent to D. centrura (Mitchill), and which, in turn, as understood by Garman (1913, p. 382), is identical 
with D. marinus Klein. 
Dasyatis hastata Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 83. Not of De Kay. 
Dasybatus hastatus Garman, 1913; p. 391. Not of De Kay 
Type No. 88378, U. S. National Museum; length of disk 15 inches; type locality, Crisfield, Md. 
This ray is very similar to say, from which it may be distinguished, however, by the absence 
of a broad, winglike expansion on the upper side of the tail, which is replaced by a low, black keel; 
the cutaneous folds below the tail are identical in the two species; the disk appears to be slightly 
shorter in proportion to its width, and the ventral fins apparently project a little farther beyond 
the disk. This species bears a small, round, light-colored spot on the middle of the forehead, which 
is wanting in say. The following proportions were obtained from a male specimen having a disk 
15 inches in length; length of disk in its width 1.2; distance from snout to vent 1.35 in width of 
disk; head to first gill slit 3.7; snout 1.6 in head; preoral length of snout 1.48; interorbital (bone) 
3.43; width of mouth 3.1; eye 3 in snout; tail 1.63 in total length. 
