Marbled Electric Ray

The marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) can deliver electric shocks of up to roughly 200 volts, which it uses both to stun prey and to defend itself against predators. The shock is generated by specialized electric organs composed of modified muscle cells called electrocytes located on either side of the disc.

The marbled electric ray is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the coasts of Europe and the British Isles down to South Africa, as well as throughout the Mediterranean Sea. It typically inhabits shallow coastal waters and sandy or muddy seabeds where it can bury itself for camouflage.

While the electric shock from Torpedo marmorata can be painful and startling, it is not known to be lethal to humans. Most shocks occur when a person accidentally steps on or handles a buried ray, so waders and divers in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic should be cautious in shallow sandy areas.

As its name suggests, Torpedo marmorata has a distinctive mottled brown and white dorsal pattern that helps it blend into the seafloor. It has a thick, circular disc-shaped body and lacks the long tail spine found in many stingray species.