Narcine brasiliensis

(Olfers, 1831)


Brazilian electric ray
Classification: Elasmobranchii Torpediniformes Narcinidae

Reference of the original description
von Olfers, J.F.M. (1831)
Die Gattung Torpedo in ihren naturhistorischen und antiquarischen Beziehungen erläutert. Druckerei der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften Berlin, pp. 35

Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Narcine brachypleura, Narcine brasiliensis corallina, Narcine brasiliensis punctata, Narcine braunii, Torpedo brasiliensis, Torpedo pictus

Types
Narcine brasiliensis
Syntype: ZMB: 4577
Narcine brachypleura
Holotype: MNRJ: 548
Narcine brasiliensis corallina
Syntype: MCZ: MCZ 44-S
Narcine brasiliensis punctata
Syntype: MCZ: 752-S
Torpedo pictus
XXXX: No types known;


Description :


Citation: Narcine brasiliensis (Olfers, 1831): In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 04/2024

Please send your images of "Narcine brasiliensis" to info@shark-references.com

Narcine brasiliensis (Olfers, 1831), Cozumel north side. San Juan reef, December 27th, 2019 © Mike Cobb
Common names
spa Raya eléctrica, spa Tembladera brasilena, spa Temblador de mar, spa Torpedo, spa Torpedo brasileño, spa Trembladera, fra \(T\) Raie électrique brésilienne, eng Brazilian electric ray, eng Bvrazilian electric ray, eng Electric ray, eng Lesser electric ray, eng Small electric ray, eng Spotted torpedo ray, eng Torpedofish, eng Trembler, por Arraia, por Arraia-elétrica, por Emplasto, por Raia treme treme, por Raia-elétrica, por Raia-emplasto, por Treme-treme, por Tremelga

Short Description
A pale sand-colored ray, often with ellipses of dark spots on dorsal side of rounded disk [17659]. Grayish to reddish brown, many rounded blotches outlined with blackish spots. Dark bands across tail up to dorsal fin. Snout darkened [17658].

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 [17659]. Source: www.gbif.org

Human uses
fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial

Biology
Ovoviviparous. Sex ratio of embryos is about one to one, however, small mothers may have predominantly female embryos and that for a given mother, embryos tend to be of one sex (Ref. 46979). Maximum number of embryos per female may reach 15. The young are capable of giving off electric charges even before they are released from the womb (Ref. 46978). Inhabits coastal waters, on sand or mud bottoms [20078]. Common along sandy shorelines, sometimes near coral reefs [1658]. Buries itself with only eyes protruding [1658]. Nocturnal, moves to shallow bays at night to feed; prefers worms, but may take juvenile snake eels, anemones, and, small crustaceans [1658].

Size / Weight / Age
54.0 cm WD (male/unsexed; [20078]); max. published weight: 650 g [199]

Habitat
reef-associated; marine; depth range ? - 43 m [2445]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=4027;

Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Cestoda
Hirudinea

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