The Atlantic torpedo ray, more formally known as the Torpedo marmorata, can be found in the Atlantic Ocean pelagic zone near coral reefs and rocky continental slopes along the Canadian, United States, United Kingdom and South Africa coasts. On occasion, the rays can be spotted in depths exceeding 450m. Juveniles inhabit the benthic realms after a gestation period of eight to ten months. The female torpedo ray can birth up to sixty pups at a time! “The reproductive mode of this ray is ovoviviparous with embryos feeding initially on yolk, [and] then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine "milk" that is enriched with mucus, fat and protein” (Source). The largest Atlantic torpedo ray ever documented was 70.9 inches long and 198 pounds! (Source).
Being within the order Torpediniformes, the ray harbors the ability to electrocute its attacker or prey. This species uses two organs made of muscle cells called electrocytes, located on either side of the head, to send electrical currents up to 220 volts that can stun or kill sharks, mullets, dogfish and boney fish. Their diet consists of benthic or pelagic boney fish (Source). The cells of the torpedo ray have the ability to make electrical currents “through the flow of calcium ions” (Source). They stun their prey by wrapping their pectoral fins around the fish where the electrical shock is administered. After the prey is disoriented or killed, the ray opens its jaws to eat the fish. The Atlantic torpedo ray has the ability to distend its jaws in order to eat a fish half its size! They have been known to kill fish too large for consumption. A nocturnal predator, the ray uses “electric sensors to "image" and detect potential prey based on the electric fields they emit” (Source). The reason the ray uses this electrical shock is because of its slow nature. The torpedo ray is quite languid, and therefore the shock enables them to catch fast moving fish.
Although torpedo rays harbor the ability to shock humans, death is very rarely the result of a shock from one of these rays. Divers have been known to say that the rays will only become defensive when closely agitated. In ancient Greek and Roman times, the torpedo rays were actually used for shock treatment on headaches!
This brilliant unique organism has evolved beyond the cusp of human knowledge. Much is to be learned from the Atlantic torpedo ray in the coming years! Let us pray that it will not become extinct or succumb to the growing issue of global warming.
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