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Pacific electric ray (Torpedo californica) fish species and information / pictures of Pacific electric ray - Torpedo californica

Pacific electric ray (Torpedo californica) fish species information

Scientific Name
Torpedo californica

Common Name
Pacific electric ray

Biology
Found on the outer continental shelf, around rocks, in kelp beds, over fine sand bottoms or buried in sand. Solitary, nomadic, and can remain suspended in the water with minimal swimming (Ref. 12951). Feeds on bony fishes, mainly herrings and halibuts. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Attacks their prey from the substratum by day and actively forage at night with the aid of its electric organ discharge or EOD (Ref. 10011). The EOD of a large individual was measured at 50 V; with a low internal organ resistance the power output exceeded 1 kW (Ref. 10480). Aggressive when provoked but no human has yet been injured by the electric shock (Ref. 2850). Does not do well in aquariums (Ref. 12951).

Classification

Classified By
Ayres, 1855
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Electric rays (Torpediniformes)
Family
Electric rays (Torpedinidae)

Distribution

Region
Eastern Pacific
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Dixon Entrance, British Columbia, Canada to Sebastian Vizcaino Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Electric rays off Peru, Chile, and Japan may belong to this species (Ref. 2850).
Range
48°N - 23°N, 126°W - 110°W

Environment

Climate
Temperate
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
0 m
Depth To - meters
425 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 425 m (Ref. 6793), usually 3 - 200 m (Ref. 55307)
Trophic Level
4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on food items.
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
140 cm
Common Length
Unknown 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
Unknown
Vulnerability
Very high vulnerability (78 of 100)
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec = 17)
Threat To Humans
Other (Ref. 13513)
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)