South Africa country information

Common names: Atlantic electric ray, Atlantiese drilvis, Black torpedo
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Ranges from the west coast to Mossel Bay, probably extending to Algoa Bay. Caught by trawlers. Also Ref. 2712.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Compagno, L.J.V., D.A. Ebert and M.J. Smale, 1989
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Torpille noire, Tremolina negra, Atlantic torpedo, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Torpediniformes (Electric rays) > Torpedinidae (Electric rays)
Etymology: More on author: Bonaparte.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 2 - 800 m (Ref. 35509), usually 10 - 150 m (Ref. 35388). Subtropical; 60°N - 48°S, 180°W - 180°E (Ref. 114953)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Circumglobal. Eastern Atlantic: Scotland (rare in North Sea) to Morocco, whole of Mediterranean, but not Black Sea; Cap Blanc in Mauritania to Gulf of Guinea, São Tomé Island; Walvis Bay, Namibia to Mossel Bay, South Africa (Ref. 5578). Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada south to Brazil (Ref. 26340). Eastern Indian Ocean: Australia (Ref. 114953). Southwest Pacific: New Zealand (Ref. 114953).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 180 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2803); common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3261); max. published weight: 90.0 kg (Ref. 7251)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Large ray with a huge, paddle-shaped caudal fin and with no papillae around spiracles. Shiny black or dark grey above, underside white (Ref. 5578). Broad subcircular disc, short snout anterior to the eyes. Smooth skin, short thick tail (Ref. 6902). Dark chocolate to purplish brown above, without spots, white below, but with edges of disc and pelvic fins of same hue as upper surface, tail with irregular dark margins (Ref. 6902).

Juveniles benthic over soft bottoms or near coral reefs (Ref. 12951) from 10-150 m; adults are semi-pelagic to pelagic, swimming in the water column and have been reported to migrate over long distances (Ref. 2803). Found on insular slopes to at least 925 m depth (Ref. 114953). Feeds mainly on pelagic and benthic bony fishes and small sharks (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Produces litters of up to 60 pups. In South Pacific region, males reaches maturity at ca. 60 cm TL (Ref. 114953). Packs a powerful electric shock of up to 220 volts (Ref. 9710).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). With up to 60 in a litter. Gestation period one year (Ref. 12951). Size at birth about 23 cm (Ref. 12951).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Carvalho, Marcelo | Collaborators

Stehmann, M. and D.L. Bürkel, 1984. Torpedinidae. p. 159-162. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2803)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 31 August 2020

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Other (Ref. 10011)

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest

FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

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Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 7.3 - 27.5, mean 13.9 (based on 3020 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01380 (0.01026 - 0.01858), b=2.99 (2.91 - 3.07), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.5 ±0.6 se; based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=60;).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Tetronarce nobiliana (Bonaparte, 1835)