Narke =paralysis Numbfish Narcinidae Narke =paralysis Numbfish

Characteristics Round flat disc w/ soft edges no denticles or thorns Large spiracles Prominent caudal fin 1st dorsal fin =2nd dorsal fin Mouth tubular and protractile Bioelectrogenesis in electric organs behind eyes for sensing and stunning prey 8-37 volts Accessory electric organ electroplaques Nocturnal

Family Narcinidae 9 genera w/ 40 spp. (last three often included in separate family) Benthobatis –blind rays 3 spp. Crassinarke – sleeper torpedo 1 spp. Diplobatis- painted ray 4 spp. Discopyge –Apron ray Heteronarce –soft electric ray Narcine – lesser electric ray 19 spp. Narke Temera Typhlonarke 2 spp.

New species 2003 Benthobatis yangi 2003 Narcine atzi 2002 Narcine insolita 2002 Narcine oculifera 2001 Narcine leoparda

distribution Sandy or muddy shallow waters Atlantic Pacific Indian Ocean Temperate to subtropical waters Narcine -circumtropical concentrated in Indo-West Pacific Benthobatis -Atlantic and Indian Diplobatis -E. Pacific and W. Atlantic Discopyge- S.W. Atlantic and S.E. Pacific Crassinarke- W. North Pacific Heteronarce –W. and C. Indian Ocean

Diplobatis ommata

Narcine brasiliensis

Crassinarke dormitor– sleeper torpedo

Diplobatis pictus- painted ray

Discopyge tschudii –Apron ray

Feeding Tubular mouth extended to suck up benthic prey Polychaete worms Crustaceans Small teleosts anemones

Reproduction Ovoviviparous Nourished w/ yolk them histotroph Young born w/ ability to produce electrical charge

IUCN red list Bycatch of bottom trawl fisheries Fish meal 2 spp. Off S. America Discopyge tschudii – neat threatened Narcine leoparda – near threatened 6 spp. listed as vulnerable Benthobatis kreffti, 4 spp. Of Diplobatis

Lesser electric ray Narcine brasiliensis Distributed in shallow W. Atlantic; common in Gulf of Mexico Color varies from brown to orange w/ rings or ovals on dorsal surface Disc width 20cm, length 45 cm 17-34 tooth rows in each jaw Conical, and sharp

Lesser electric ray

Lesser electric ray