Pacific electric ray

California electric ray (Torpedo californica )

The California electric ray (Torpedo californica ) is a ray species from the family of electric ray. He comes on the continental shelf of the Pacific coast of the United States and on the coast of Baja California, over a sandy bottom, around rocks and kelp beds in front at depths up to 200 meters. He is the only member of his family.

Features

His body has the shape of a circular disc with a short, ending in a large tail fin tail. He has two, far behind seated dorsal fins, the first is much greater than the second. Its color is gray to gray- blue with black spots on the top. Ocelli are absent. At the transition from the body to the tail, the two kidney-shaped Elektroplaxe are clearly visible. Females reach a body length ( with tail ) of up to 137 cm and a weight of up to 41 kg. Males grow up to 91 cm long.

Way of life

California electric rays are solitary and nomadic. You can keep up with minimal swimming movements floating in open water. They actively hunt mainly at night. During the day, they are hidden in the substrate and surprise their prey, especially herring and flatfish, through her electric shocks. Large individuals can produce discharges with voltages above 50 volts with a power of 1 kW. California electric rays are ovoviviparous.

If danger threatens, California electric ray are also aggressive towards divers, they swim with open mouth and put them electric shocks.