MarLIN Marine Information Network Information on the species and habitats around the coasts and sea of the British Isles
Marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata)
MarLIN – Marine Life Information Network Marine Evidence–based Sensitivity Assessment (MarESA) Review
Morvan Barnes
2008-05-22
A report from: The Marine Life Information Network, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
Please note. This MarESA report is a dated version of the online review. Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date version [https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/75]. All terms and the MarESA methodology are outlined on the website (https://www.marlin.ac.uk)
This review can be cited as: Barnes, M.K.S. 2008. Torpedo marmorata Marbled electric ray. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. (eds) Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.17031/marlinsp.75.1
The information (TEXT ONLY) provided by the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own terms and conditions and they may or may not be available for reuse. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available here. Based on a work at www.marlin.ac.uk (page left blank) Date: 2008-05-22 Marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) - Marine Life Information Network
See online review for distribution map
Torpedo (Torpedo) marmorata in the Channel Isles. Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Photographer: Sue Daly Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). To Copyright: Sue Daly interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.
This information is not Researched by Morvan Barnes Refereed by refereed. Authority Risso, 1810 Other common - Synonyms Torpedo (Torpedo) marmorata names
Summary
Description Torpedo marmorata is a small sized ray and rarely reaching over 80 cm in length. It has a dorsoventrally flattened body with very small eyes and spiracles at the top of the head. Like all other electric rays, it has a very rounded snout and rounded wings and pectoral discs. The body is thick and flabby, with soft, loose skin. The caudal fin is well developed. Torpedo marmorata has two dorsal fins on its tail that are close together. It has a marbled pale and dark brown colouration.
Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Recorded all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution Recorded from the Shetland Isles in the British Isles and the Atlantic coast of France, the Mediterranean, south along the Atlantic coast of Africa to South Africa and Madagascar.
Habitat The electric ray is a demersal species usually found on sandy or muddy seabeds at depths between 10-100 m. It is often buried during the day but will swim in search of prey at night.
Depth range https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/75 3 Date: 2008-05-22 Marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) - Marine Life Information Network
10-100 m
Identifying features
Up to 80 cm in length. Rounded disc-like body with a rounded snout. Short tail with broad caudal fin. Two dorsal fins positioned close together on the tail. Marbled pale and dark brown colouration. Seven papillae-like processes around the inner edge of spiracles.
Additional information
It can be distinguished from the electric ray Tetronarce nobiliana by the colouration which is marbled pale and dark brown in the marbled electric ray and dark greyish-blue to brown in Tetronarce nobiliana.
Electric rays are best known for their highly specialized electrogenic organs. They are generally kidney-shaped organs, composed of stacks of striated muscle plaques. All these plaques are enervated on the same side, so that any muscular contraction generates electricity. This ultimately produces an external shock, used by the electric rays to incapacitate prey or deter potential predators (Stehmann & Bürkel, 1984).
Listed by
Further information sources FishBase (www.fishbase.org)
Search on: NBN WoRMS
https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/75 4 Date: 2008-05-22 Marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) - Marine Life Information Network
Bibliography
Cadenat, J., Capapé, C. & Desoutter, M., 1978. Description d'un torpedinidae nouveau des cô tes occidentales d'Afrique: Torpedo bauchotae (Torpediniformes, Pisces). Cybium, 4, 29-42 Stehmann, M. & Bürkel D.L., 1984. Torpedinidae. p. 159-162. In Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (eds. P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese). UNESCO, Paris. Whitehead, P.J.P., Bauchot, M.-L., Hureau, J.-C., Nielson, J. & Tortonese, E. 1986. Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. I, II & III. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Shark Trust, 2009. An Illustrated Compendium of Sharks, Skates, Rays and Chimaera. Chapter 1: The British Isles. Part 1: Skates and Rays. [Cited 06-07-2018] Available from https://www.sharktrust.org/en/factsheets
Datasets
Isle of Wight Local Records Centre, 2017. IOW Natural History & Archaeological Society Marine Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/7axhcw accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org. OBIS (Ocean Biogeographic Information System), 2019. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2019-03-12
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