Tetronarce californica (Ayres, 1855)
Description
Gray with scattered black spots dorsally, no ocelli. 1st dorsal fin much larger than 2nd. Spiracle margin smooth and without papillae.
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order: Torpediniformes
Family: Torpedinidae
Genus: Tetronarce
Species: Tetronarce californica (Ayres, 1855)
Climate Zone
Biology
Found on the outer continental shelf, around rocks, in kelp beds, over fine sand bottoms or buried in sand. Solitary, nomadic, and can remain suspended in the water with minimal swimming (Ref. 12951). Feeds on bony fishes, mainly herrings and halibuts. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Produces litters of up to 17 pups. Males reaches maturity at ca. 65 cm TL, females at ca. 73 cm TL (Ref. 114953). Attacks their prey from the substratum by day and actively forage at night with the aid of its electric organ discharge or EOD (Ref. 10011). The EOD of a large individual was measured at 50 V; with a low internal organ resistance the power output exceeded 1 kW (Ref. 10480). Aggressive when provoked but no human has yet been injured by the electric shock (Ref. 2850). Does not do well in aquariums (Ref. 12951).
Habitat
demersal
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Threat to Humans
Other