Electric ray

This article is about the fish. For a ray of electricity, see Electric discharge.

Electric rays
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent[1]
Marbled electric ray
(Torpedo marmorata)
Lesser electric ray
(Narcine bancroftii)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Clade: Batomorphi
Order: Torpediniformes
F. de Buen, 1926
Families

see text

The electric rays are a group of rays, flattened cartilaginous fish with enlarged pectoral fins, composing the order Torpediniformes /tɔːrˈpɛdɪnɪfɔːrmiːz/. They are known for being capable of producing an electric discharge, ranging from 8 to 220 volts, depending on species, used to stun prey and for defense.[2] There are 69 species in four families.

Perhaps the best known members are those of the genus Torpedo. The torpedo undersea weapon is named after it. The name comes from the Latin torpere, 'to be stiffened or paralyzed', from the effect on someone who touches the fish.[3]

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Order Torpediniformes". FishBase. February 2011 version.
  2. ^ Martin, R. Aidan. "Electric Rays". ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  3. ^ Kidd, D. A. (1973). "Torpedo". Collins Latin Gem Dictionary: Latin-English, English-Latin. Collins Latin Gem Dictionary. London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-458641-7.