Fish o' the Day - lesser electric ray

The lesser electric ray, Narcine brasiliensis, like it's larger cousin the torpedo, has a pair of elongated electric organs in the broad pectoral disk. They are found in coastal waters in the western Atlantic, where they may bury themselves in the sand. We see them regularly in trawl samples from Mississippi Sound, and on snorkeling expeditions in Florida lagoons. They top out at about 2 feet in length, although half that is more common. They're sluggish swimmer, propelling themselves primarily with their caudal fin rather than using the pectorals like most rays. Their preferred diet seems to be annelid worms and other inverts. They don't generate much of a wallop, perhaps 30 volts. Still, there are tales of them knocking people down. Not sure how - about all I've ever gotten out of one is a joy buzzer effect.

Jack Rudloe wrote about lesser electric rays in his Wilderness Coast - here it is.