70 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHEEIES 
24. Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen). “ Bishop ray Spotted eagle ray. 
Raia narinari Euphrasen, Handl., K. Vetensk. Akad., XI, 1790, p. 217, PI. X; Brazil. 
JEtobaiis narinari Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 184; ed. II, p. 156. 
Aetobatus narinari Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 88, Pis. XV and XVI, figs. 37 and 38; Garman, 1913, p. 441, pi. 49, 
figs. 1 to 3 (teeth); pi. 54, fig. 4 (pelvis); pi. 55, fig. 9 (vertebra); pi. 57, fig. 4 (heart); pi. 73, fig. 4 (skeleton). 
“Width of the disk nearly twice the length; anterior borders convex, posterior concave. 
Pectorals somewhat falciform, acute on the outer angle. Rostral fins distinct from the pectorals, 
joined in a single, produced, depressed, and pointed lobe. Cranium large, narrower toward the 
mouth, convex across the crown. Teeth in a single row on each jaw, broad and short, fused, 
upper wider; lower pavement flatter and more produced. Each tooth is curved or angled forward 
more or less in the middle, the amount varying in the individuals. Eyes prominent. Spiracles 
large, lateral, behind the eyes, partly visible from above. Ventrals narrow, elongate, nearly half 
extended behind the ends of the pectorals, rounded posteriorly. Dorsal small, rounded above, 
with a short, free margin and an angle behind the base, origin above the ends of the bases of the 
ventrals. Tail whiplike, very slender, more than four times the length of the body. In a speci- 
men at hand the measurements are from snout to vent 13, from vent to end of tail 59, and across 
the pectorals 25 inches.” (Garman, 1913.) 
Color dark brown or black above, white underneath. The dorsal surface with white spots, 
which are somewhat variable in number, size, and shape, and usually are smaller anteriorly than 
posteriorly. Anteriorly the spots are round, but posteriorly they sometimes become elongate, 
ring-shaped, or they appear as incomplete rings, and occasionally two spots become more or less 
connected by a narrow isthmus. Tail plain black. 
This ray was not taken in Chesapeake Bay during the present investigation. The color 
description offered herewith is largely from notes made by us from specimens examined at Beau- 
fort, N. C. The species is readily recognized by the shovel-shaped snout, the broad disk, which 
is covered above with numerous white spots, and by the very broad, flat, platelike teeth. 
The spotted eagle ray, according to several recent writers, subsists almost wholly upon clams, 
which it probably digs up with its shovellike snout. The large, flat, platelike teeth and strong 
muscular jaws are well adapted to crushing hard-shelled mollusks. 
This ray has the habit of jumping high above the water and, according to Coles (1910, p. 340) 
and Gudger (1914, p. 301), it is during this leaping that the young are born. According to Coles, 
about four young are delivered at one time. The young, when born, are from 6 to 8 inches broad, 
and they are delivered rolled up lengthwise. The spotted eagle ray reaches a length of about 12 
feet and a width of about feet. 
This ray, if it occurs at all in Chesapeake Bay, is very rare, as it was not seen during the pre- 
sent investigation and no information concerning its occurrence could be obtained from the fisher- 
men. It is here included because of the record by Uhler and Lugger (1876). 
Habitat . — “Tropical parts of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific” (Garman); ranging northward 
on our Atlantic coast to Virginia. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous record: “Enters Chesapeake Bay from the ocean and is 
caught in seines near Norfolk, Va.” (Uhler and Lugger, 1876.) (b) Specimens in collection: None. 
Family XIV.— RHINOPTERID/E. The cow-nosed rays 
Body, head, and pectorals united to form a broad disk; a pair of rostral fins present, not joined 
in front of the skull and not continuous at the sides with the pectoral fins; eyes prominent, lateral; 
spiracles large, behind the eyes, opening laterally; one dorsal fin present, situated on the base of 
the slender tail and just in front of one or more strongly serrated spines. 
18. Genus RHINOPTERA Cuvier. Cow-nosed rays 
Disk broader than long, but not as broad as in related genera; tail long, slender; head promi- 
nent; rostral fins detached from the pectorals, forming a free and detached lobe in front of each 
orbit but not produced in front of the middle of the head; dorsal fin present, followed immediately 
by one or more serrated spines. A single species is known from the Atlantic coast of the United 
States. 
