Ray
Blackspotted Electric Ray
Torpedo fuscomaculata
A rounded, soft-bodied ray that can deliver an electric shock, resting on sandy bottoms off the east coast.
Also known as blackspotted torpedo ray, electric(blackspotted), marbled electric ray, torpedo ray
- Typical size
- Commonly to about 40 cm across the disc
- Habitat
- Sandy and muddy bottoms near reefs
- Depth
- Shallows to about 100 m
The blackspotted electric ray has a smooth, rounded disc and a short, fleshy tail, coloured brown to grey and marked with darker spots and blotches over the back. Paired kidney-shaped electric organs sit at the base of the disc, either side of the head.
It lies partly buried on sand and mud near reefs along the eastern South African coast, ambushing small fish and invertebrates and stunning them with an electric discharge. Divers should never touch or handle it, as the shock is strong enough to cause a painful jolt. It is otherwise slow and unaggressive.