Animal Species:Short-tail Torpedo Ray, Torpedo macneilli (Whitley, 1932)
The Short-tail Torpedo Ray's disc is usually broader than long. The species is grey, yellowish or brown above and white below. It grows to at least 1m in length.
Standard Common Name
Short-tail Torpedo Ray
Electric Ray, Torpedo
The Short-tail Torpedo Ray's disc is usually broader than long. The profile across the front of the fish is nearly straight. The skin is smooth, but may be creased. There are two small dorsal fins and a large caudal fin. The eyes are very small. On the underside of the head are five pairs of gill slits. The species is grey, yellowish or brown above and white below.
It grows to at least 1m in length.
The Short-tail Torpedo Ray is endemic to Australia. It is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the south of the country including Tasmania, and north to the central coast of Queensland.
Distribution by collection data
The species is a bottom dwelling species that normally occurs between 90 m and 580 m in depth.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Short-tail Torpedo Ray has electric organs in the disc. The organs are made up of hexagonal, fluid filled cells that cause the upper surface of the fish to have a positive charge and the lower surface a negative charge. Reports exist of fishermen who have received severe electric shocks from handling this fish.
- Last, P.R. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Short-tail Torpedo Ray, Torpedo macneilli, Torpedinidae, NORFANZ, ray, odd-shaped, brown, > 1m, 30 cm - 1 m, grey, yellow, white underside, Electric Ray, Torpedo, wide disc, smooth skin, two small dorsal fins, large caudal fin, small eyes, five pairs of gill slits, bottom-dwelling, marine, adult, electric shock, electric organs,