Animal Profiles
Fish

Electric ray

Torpediniformes

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Electric rays have specialised organs that produce electrical discharges. This account follows the Pacific electric ray, a coastal predator that uses electricity when capturing other fishes.

Pacific electric ray (Tetronarce californica), the representative described here.

Pacific electric ray (Tetronarce californica), the representative described here.

Derek Stein / California Department of Fish and Wildlife from Sacramento, CA, USA · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Tetronarce californica, formerly Torpedo californica, is the representative here. It lives along western North America from British Columbia to Baja California. Sandy bottoms, rocky areas and kelp beds provide habitat.
Habitat
Coast
Diet
Piscivore
Food
The ray feeds on bony fishes.

Classification

Common name
Electric ray
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Torpediniformes
Taxon rank
order
Order
Torpediniformes
Source classification
Elasmobranchii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It produces electrical discharges.
  • Its first dorsal fin is larger.
  • It gives birth to live young.

Habitat and range

Tetronarce californica, formerly Torpedo californica, is the representative here. It lives along western North America from British Columbia to Baja California. Sandy bottoms, rocky areas and kelp beds provide habitat.

Appearance and adaptations

The broad body is grey with scattered dark spots. Two dorsal fins rise behind the disc, the first larger than the second. Electric organs lie within the widened front part of the body.

Diet and behaviour

The ray feeds on bony fishes. It can wait near the bottom or search more actively, using electrical discharges during attacks. Young are born alive rather than hatching from an egg case laid outside the mother.

Sources

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