Narcinidae - numbfishes

There are 26 species in this family. They are found in shallow waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They have large round pectoral fins and a rounded head that make their bodies look circular.

They have well-developed caudal and dorsal fins. Numbfishes are sometimes called electric rays. They produce a powerful electric charge through their pectoral fins. They use this charge to shock prey like crabs, worms, and fish.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		Deepsea Blind Ray - Benthobatis marcida Bullseye Electric Ray - Diplobatis ommata Caribbean Electric Ray - Narcine bancroftii Giant Electric Ray - Narcine entemedor Vermiculate Electric Ray - Narcine vermiculatus

Other Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranean/Black Sea Pacific Ocean
Brazilian Blind Electric Ray - Benthobatis kreffti Deepsea Blind Ray - Benthobatis marcida Dark Blindray - Benthobatis moresbyi Taiwanese Blind Electric Ray - Benthobatis yangi Colombian Electric Ray - Diplobatis colombiensis Brownband Numbfish - Diplobatis guamachensis Bullseye Electric Ray - Diplobatis ommata Variegated Electric Ray - Diplobatis pictus Apron Ray - Discopyge tschudii Atz's Numbfish - Narcine atzi Caribbean Electric Ray - Narcine bancroftii Lesser Electric Ray - Narcine brasiliensis Shortlip Electric Ray - Narcine brevilabiata		Giant Electric Ray - Narcine entemedor Madagascar Numbfish - Narcine insolita Western Numbfish - Narcine lasti Narcine leoparda Chinese Numbfish - Narcine lingula Darkspotted Electric Ray - Narcine maculata Bigeye Numbfish - Narcine oculifera Tonkin Numbfish - Narcine prodorsalis Mozambique Numbfish - Narcine rierai Tasmanian Numbfish - Narcine tasmaniensis Blackspotted Numbfish - Narcine timlei Vermiculate Electric Ray - Narcine vermiculatus Banded Numbfish - Narcine westraliensis

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Caribbean Electric Ray - Narcine bancroftii
The Caribbean electric ray is found in the waters off of Brazil; French Guiana; Guyana; Suriname; the United States, and Venezuela.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Caribbean Electric Ray - Narcine brasiliensis
In the United States, the Caribbean electric ray is found from North Carolina south to Florida and through parts of the Gulf of Mexico.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Bullseye Electric Ray - Diplobatis ommata
The bullseye electric ray is also known as the ocellated electric ray.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Lesser Electric Ray - Narcine brasiliensis
The lesser electric ray is found off the coasts of Argentina; Brazil; and Uruguay.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School