Family NARCINIDAE
Numbfishes
Compiler and date details
22 April 2011 - Douglass F. Hoese, John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates & Dianne J. Bray
Introduction
The family Narcinidae, as recognised here, includes four genera and 17 species (Last & Stevens 2009), although Nelson (2006) includes nine genera and over 26 species, many placed in separate families here.
The Australian fauna includes one genus and five species, all treated in Last & Stevens (1994; 2009) and Carvalho et al. (1999).
Numbfishes are sluggish bottom dwellers found from the intertidal zone to more than 1000 m. They are very thick in the body where the vertical columns of cells making up the electric organs are located. The powerful electric shock generated by numbfishes is used both for defence and to stun prey. The skin lacks denticles and the short tail lacks spines. Maximum length is 47 cm.
General References
Carvalho, M.R. de, Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Family Narcinidae. pp. 1433-1446 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.
Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.
Common Name References
Carvalho, M.R. de, Compagno, L.J.V. & Last, P.R. 1999. Family Narcinidae. pp. 1433-1446 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1433] (FAO) (Numbfishes)
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [375] (Numbfishes)
History of changes
Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
16-Apr-2012 | 04-Aug-2014 | MODIFIED | ||
11-Mar-2010 | MODIFIED |