Page 182 - (DK) Super Shark Encyclopedia: And Other Creatures of the Deep

SHOCK TACTICS

TORPEDO RAY

The torpedo ray looks like a harmless flatfish but it has
a stunning secret weapon. Its fleshy body is packed with
a pair of fat electrical organs that can fire a shock through
the surrounding seawater. The ray uses its organs to
electrocute its fishy prey—but, if provoked, it is more
than willing to use them when danger threatens.

AT A GLANCE Kidney-shaped
electrical organ

Pectoral fins are
• SIZE 20–70 in (50–180 cm) long; 12–39 ⁄4 in winglike and
1
(30–100 cm) in diameter surround the body
to form a flat,
• HABITAT Open ocean waters or near disklike shape
coastlines. Young rays live in shallower waters
on sand, mud, or coral reefs
• LOCATION Worldwide in warm and tropical
oceans
• DIET Small fish

ELECTROCUTING ENEMIES
If something grabs its tail, the torpedo ray
arches its back and curls its white belly
outward toward its attacker. The shock
will then hit the attacker in the face.
Simply stunning
The electric organs of the torpedo ray are under
the direct control of the ray’s brain. When the ray
spots an unsuspecting fish, it gently hovers over it
Curling its body enables before zapping it with an electric shock. As it delivers
the ray to produce an the shock, the ray wraps itself around its victim.
outward rather than The stunned fish is then swallowed whole.
a downward shock

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