Animalia > Chordata > Elasmobranchii > Torpediniformes > Torpedinidae

Torpedinidae (electric rays and torpedo rays)

Wikipedia Abstract

The family Torpedinidae contains 22 species of electric rays or torpedoes, flat cartilaginous fishes that produce electricity as a defense and feeding mechanism. They are slow-moving bottom-dwellers. The largest species is the Atlantic torpedo, Tetronarce nobiliana, which can grow to a weight of 90 kilograms and deliver a 220-volt electric shock. Electric rays have patches of modified muscle cells called electroplaques that make up an electric organ. These generate an electric gradient, similar to the normal electric potential across most cell membranes, but amplified greatly by its concentration into a very small area. The electricity can be stored in the tissues, which act as a battery. The shock can be discharged in pulses. A ray can emit a shock into the body of a prey animal to stun i
View Wikipedia Record: Torpedinidae

Genus

Eotorpedo (4)
Tetronarce (12)   (1)
Torpedo (16)   (5)

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External References

Species taxanomy provided by GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-13; License: CC BY 4.0