Brazilian electric ray (Narcine brasiliensis)

Scientific name: Narcine brasiliensis Olfers, 1831

Brazilian electric ray (Narcine brasiliensis)

The Brazilian electric ray (Narcine brasiliensis) is a marine fish of the family Narcinidae.

Biology

Inhabits coastal waters, on sand or mud bottoms. Common along sandy shorelines, sometimes near coral reefs. Buries itself with only eyes protruding. Nocturnal, moves to shallow bays at night to feed; prefers worms, but may take juvenile snake eels, anemones, and, small crustaceans. Produces broods of 4 to 15 young. Can discharge between 14 and 37 volts. Contact with the skin can produce a severe electric shock. In addition to the main electric organ, this species possesses a bilateral accessory electric organ speculated to have a possible role in social communication. Reported to taste good, but not fished commercially. Traded as an aquarium fish at Cear?, Brazil.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Narcine brasiliensis
Family
Narcinidae (Numbfishes)
Order
Torpediniformes (Electric rays)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
54.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
43 m (141 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 43 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Espirito Santo, Brazil to northern Argentina (Carvalho, pers. comm.). North Carolina, USA to Florida, northern Gulf of Mexico, central Lesser Antilles and Yucatan.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Other
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming fecundity

More other marine fish

See all other marine fish

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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