Morphology Data of Bathytoshia centroura
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder, 1953
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral other
Cross section flattened
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth sub-terminal/inferior
Type of scales placoid scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Large specimens of Dasyatis centroura are recognizable by their thorny tails, by the large size and wide spacing spacing of their mid-dorsal bucklers, and by the conspicuous tubercles or bucklers on the outer parts of their discs; in smaller specimens the large tubercles have not yet developed on the tail (Ref. 6902). It differs from Dasyatis sabina, D. guttata and Himantura schmardae in the shape of disc; it resembles Dasyatis say and D. americana in shape of disc, but it can be distinguished from D. say by the fact that the tail lacks any trace of a cutaneous fold above, and from D. americana by its much narrower ventral tailfold (Ref. 6902).

Description: A very large stingray; disc rhombic, the anterior margins forming a blunt angle (Ref. 6902, 39859, 81259). Dorsal surface entirely, but irregularly rough, with a mid-dorsal row of large thorny tubercles provided with striate bases and erect cusps; a few similar tubercles scattered over pectoral fins and head (Ref. 81259). Tail whip-like and strongly spinous, with numerous rows of small spines; tail with a short dorsal ridge behind the sting and a poorly developed ventral fold, which is long long, but quite low and not easily seen (Ref. 7251).

Colouration: Dorsal side dark brown to olivaceous-brown; the lower surface whitish, with or without dark pectoral margins; tail blackish behind the sting (Ref. 6902, 81259).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Bathytoshia centroura

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  transformed to 'aerofoils'
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17