Torpedo sinuspersici, Variable torpedo ray : fisheries, gamefish

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Torpedo sinuspersici Olfers, 1831

Variable torpedo ray
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Torpedo sinuspersici   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Torpedo sinuspersici (Variable torpedo ray)
Torpedo sinuspersici
Picture by Ketabi, R. / S. Jamili

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Torpediniformes (Electric rays) > Torpedinidae (Electric rays)
Etymology: Torpedo: Latin, torpere = be sluggish (Ref. 45335).

Issue
Torpedo zugmayeri Engelhardt, 1912 could be a valid species after Weigmann (2016; Ref. 106604) (valid in ECoF, v. Jan. 2021).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 200 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 30°N - 31°S, 30°E - 72°E (Ref. 114953)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf (Ref. 80050), Red Sea eastward to India (Ref. 2712) and southward to Natal, South Africa (Ref. 5578).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 130 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2712)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Large ray with a small caudal fin and with papillae around the spiracles (Ref. 5578). Bright color pattern of circles and irregular marks, cream or golden on dark red or brown to blackish background dorsally (Ref. 5578).
Body shape (shape guide): other.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Found inshore in sandy bottoms, and well offshore from the surf zone down to 200 m (Ref. 5578). Also on or near coral reefs (Ref. 12951, Ref. 114953). Common in shallow sandy areas (Ref. 2712). Feeds on bony fishes (Ref. 12951) and benthic invertebrates (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Males mature by 30 cm TL (Ref. 114953). Occurs singly but may form groups during the breeding season (Ref. 12951). Occasionally hooked by anglers, more often seen by divers; can deliver a strong shock (Ref. 2712). Flesh is edible (Ref. 12484). Can survive for hours after being stranded on the beach (Ref. 41394).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). With 9-22 in a litter (Ref. 12951). Form aggregations during the reproductive season (Ref. 41394).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Carvalho, Marcelo | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1986. Torpedinidae. p. 112-113. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 2712)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)

  Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 07 February 2017

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Other (Ref. 2712)





Human uses

Fisheries: bycatch; gamefish: yes
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Food rations
Predators
Ecology
Ecology
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Population dynamics
Growth parameters
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
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Abundance
Life cycle
Reproduction
Maturity
Maturity/Gills rel.
Fecundity
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Eggs
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References

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | OneZoom | Open Tree of Life | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | TreeBase | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search | Zoobank | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 21.8 - 28.3, mean 25.5 °C (based on 370 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5005   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01585 (0.00965 - 0.02604), b=3.00 (2.86 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  4.5   ±0.80 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=9-22).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Very high vulnerability (78 of 100). 🛈
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Medium.