Electric ray (Torpedo nobiliana) fish species and Electric ray information

Scientific Name
Torpedo nobiliana

Common Name
Electric ray

Biology
Large ray with a huge, paddle-shaped caudal fin and with no papillae around spiracles. Shiny black or dark grey above, underside white (Ref. 5578). Broad subcircular disc, short snout anterior to the eyes. Smooth skin, short thick tail (Ref. 6902). Dark chocolate to purplish brown above, without spots, white below, but with edges of disc and pelvic fins of same hue as upper surface, tail with irregular dark margins (Ref. 6902).

Classification

Classified By

Bonaparte, 1835

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Electric rays (Torpediniformes)

Family

Electric rays (Torpedinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Scotland (rare in North Sea) to Morocco, whole of Mediterranean, but not Black Sea; Cap Blanc in Mauritania to Gulf of Guinea, S?o Tom? Island; Walvis Bay, Namibia to Mossel Bay, South Africa (Ref. 5578). Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada south to Brazil (Ref. 26340).

Range

60°N - 35°S, 82°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

2 m

Depth To - meters

800 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 2 - 800 m (Ref. 35509), usually 10 - 150 m (Ref. 35388)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

180 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (88 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (up to 60 offspring only)

Threat To Humans

Other (Ref. 10011)

IUCN Red List Status

Data deficient (DD)

Electric ray (Torpedo nobiliana) fish species and information / pictures of Electric ray - Torpedo nobiliana

Electric ray (Torpedo nobiliana) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population