Narcinidae

Narcinidae
Lesser electric ray, Narcine bancroftii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Torpediniformes
Family: Narcinidae
T. N. Gill, 1862

Narcinidae, or numbfishes, are a family of electric rays (order Torpediniformes).[1] They are bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fishes with large, rounded pectoral fin discs and long tails. They can produce an electric discharge for defense, from which their scientific name is derived (Greek narke, meaning 'paralysis').[2]

Members of this family are commonly known as the numbfishes, and are found almost worldwide in warm temperate and tropical continental and continental insular waters. They are strictly marine, so are absent from rivers and lakes. They occur in sandy beaches, muddy enclosed bays, estuaries, off coral reefs and river mouths, and on the upper continental slope to a depth of 1,071 m.[3]

  1. ^ "Narcinidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved March 20, 2006.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference martin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Compagno, L.J.V. and Last, P.R. (1999). Narcinidae. Numbfishes. p. 1433-1437. In: K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization.