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Description:
The lesser electric ray is a sluggish fish that grows to approximately 18
inches in length. It has a fleshy, circular disc and a tapering tail.
The dorsal fins are set behind the disc and are nearly equally sized.
The caudal fin is rounded. Body color typically ranges from gray to
shades of brown dorsally, with dark brown spots and blotches, many of which
are ringed in black. The tail portion of the fish is banded in brown.
The ventral surface is white. The eyes are small. Two electric
organs, set on either side of the head, are visible ventrally as kidney
shaped honeycombs.
Habitat:
Lesser electric rays are bottom-dwellers that inhabit nearshore areas,
seagrass beds and sandflats from the surf zone to depths of 120 feet.
They are most common at depths less than 60 feet.
Range:
Lesser electric rays range from North Carolina south through Brazil and
Argentina, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
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Lesser electric ray cruising over a
seagrass bed.
Photo courtesy A. Murch,
elasmodiver.com.
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Lesser electric ray at rest.
Photo courtesy A. Murch,
elasmodiver.com. |
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Like other electric fishes, lesser electric rays are able to produce and
discharge electrical currents to stun prey and ward off predators. The
electric organ consists of 2 sets of modified muscle cells that are
specialized to produce electricity. Though some species of electric
rays discharge as much as 200 volts, lesser electric rays deliver
approximately 35 volts - enough to shock, but not to injure an adult human.
This maximum discharge is used in defense rather than for prey capture, and
occurs only when this passive fish is agitated.
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