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| Pacific electric ray | ||||||||||||||||
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| Torpedo californica Ayres, 1855 |
The Pacific electric ray (Torpedo californica) is a species of electric ray native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. The range of the species is from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico, and possibly also other areas of the Pacific.
The ray can reach a total length of 140 cm and a weight of 41 kg. The body is round and gray with small black spots on the dorsal side. The two dorsal fins are located near the tail.
The rays are found in kelp forests and on sandy bottoms, sometimes partially buried in the sand. It feeds on bony fish, primarily herrings and halibut. It can stun prey using electric discharges from its electric organ. The discharges can reach 50 volt at 1 kilowatt[1] resulting in 20 amperes (
)[2]. It is ovoviviparous and reproduces slowly with a doubling time estimated to be between 4.5 and 14 years.
The torpedo rays have been used as model organisms for molecular biology research because of the high natural abundance of some proteins in its electrical organs, notable examples being acetylcholinesterase and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
References
- Neer (2000). Torpedo californica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
- Torpedo californica (TSN 160833). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
- "Torpedo californica". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
