Family NARCINIDAE

Narcinidae

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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.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

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)

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