The Atlantic torpedo ray is a coastal species found from the Gulf of Maine to North Carolina, and occasionally further south (Collette and Klein-MacPhee 2002). It is also found in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea where much of the research on this species has been conducted. There is limited information available on the species, however, especially pertaining to life-history, ecology, and fisheries. This large benthic ray is rounded with a soft body, short snout, and a large tail. The two large electric organs are kidney-shaped and located anteriorly. The electric organ is used to stun prey which is then consumed with the aid of it's highly protrusible mouth. Though not commercially targeted, this species is caught as bycatch in a number of fisheries. The diet is little known, but is predominately fish prey as with other electric rays. Bowman et al. (2000) reported the stomach contents of a few rays from NMFS databases. The prey was exclusively teleost prey, with the reported species including silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis.
Torpedo rays are being collected from several commercial fishermen, and stomachs examined to characterize the diet in New England waters. This study is being conducted in conjunction with other life-history studies (see age and growth and reproduction studies). The diet will be examined for ontogenetic, spatial, and habitat related patterns as well as for any potential biases associated with capture gear.
Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels, aand M.D. Grosslein. 2000. Food of Northwest Atlantic fishes and two common species of squid. NOAA Tech. Mem. No. NMFS-NE-155: 21.
Collette, B.B. and G. Klein-MacPhee. 2002. Bigelow and Schroeder's Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 748 pp.
Contact information:
W. David McElroy
wmce3776@postoffice.uri.edu
David McElroy is currently working on completing his Ph.D. in the Fisheries Department at the University of Rhode Island.
Sandra Downing
isolusine@mail.uri.edu
Kathy Duffy
kduffy@mola.na.nmfs.gov
Nancy E. Kohler, Ph.D.
Nancy.Kohler@noaa.gov
Lisa Natanson, Ph.D.
Lisa.Natanson@noaa.gov