The Electric Ray is one of the most unique cartilaginous fish of the regional seas and belongs to the Torpedinidae family. The body is a round disc with thick, fleshy fins and a short but strong tail. The skin is smooth and slimy, without scales, and its name comes from the numbness it causes when one touches it.

In the Mediterranean, we mainly encounter two species. The Marbled Electric Ray has a brown back with irregular light spots that resemble marble, and the Common Torpedo, which is easily distinguished by the five characteristic blue ocelli on its back that resemble eyes.

The secret weapon is located in the two kidney-shaped electrogenic organs situated on the sides of the head. These consist of modified muscles that function like biological batteries, allowing the fish to release electricity at will.

It is a sluggish, bottom-dwelling species that lives in shallow to medium depths. We usually find it on sandy or muddy bottoms and Posidonia meadows at depths from 2 to 100 metres. It spends most of the day buried in the sand, leaving only its eyes and breathing holes (spiracles) exposed to wait patiently for prey.

This is a carnivorous fish that mainly hunts at night, using an ambush technique. It feeds on small bottom-dwelling fish such as gobies and goatfish, as well as crustaceans and cephalopods. When prey passes nearby, the ray lunges and embraces it with its fins while simultaneously discharging electricity to stun or kill it before swallowing it whole.

The species is aplacental viviparous, which means the embryos develop in the mother's uterus and initially feed on the yolk sac and later on a nutritious fluid produced by the uterus known as histotroph. Gestation lasts about 6 to 12 months, depending on the species. The female gives birth to between 3 and 20 young, which are fully formed and capable of producing electricity from the moment of birth.

Fisheries & Economic Value

It has no commercial value and is rarely consumed because its meat is considered low quality and is difficult to clean. It is often caught as bycatch by trawlers and nets. Fishers usually throw it back into the sea, taking care not to touch it with bare hands because it can shock even for some time after it comes out of the water.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Electric Ray as a species of Least Concern in the Mediterranean, although at a global level, the Common Torpedo is considered Vulnerable. Scientific studies have shown that the electric organs of the ray were used in antiquity by the Greeks and Romans as a primitive form of electrotherapy to treat pain and gout, which makes it the first known example of the medical use of electricity. Furthermore, research has shown that females tend to be larger than males and live longer.