Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Torpediniformes (Electric rays) >
Narcinidae (Numbfishes)
Etymology: Benthobatis: Greek, benthos = depth of the sea + Greek, batis, -idos = a ray (Raja sp.) (Ref. 45335); yangi: Named for Hung-Chia Yang, Taiwanese Fisheries Research Institute in Kao-Hsiung..
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range ? - 300 m (Ref. 114953). Temperate
Northwest Pacific: Taiwan.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 20.3, range 19 - 21.5 cm
Max length : 21.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 75959)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following unique set of characters: both dorsal and ventral surfaces dark brown to purplish-black, with irregular whitish blotches ventrally; narrow nasoral region, with relatively small mouth, slender jaws and shallow circumoral groove; relatively small spiracles; very narrow gill-slits; the second dorsal fin is slightly larger than first, with more slanted anterior margin, broadly rounded apex, and convex posterior margin; low caudal fin, relatively elongated; interdorsal distance greater than distance between second dorsal and caudal fin; suprascapula very narrow and not arched posteriorly; males sexually mature between 19.1-21.5 cm TL; relatively high number of caudal vertebral centra (38-46), total vertebral centra (116-120) (Ref. 75959).
A benthic species found on continental slope. Mainly feeds on polychaete worms (Ref. 114953). Stomach contents include mud and the partial remains of an unidentified polychaete worm, plus unattached polychaete bristles and unidentified small white objects (Ref. 75959). Maturity size of males at 16-19 cm TL (Ref. 114953).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
de Carvalho, M.R., L.J.V. Compagno and D.A. Ebert, 2003. Benthobatis yangi, a new species of blind electric ray from Taiwan (Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes: Narcinidae). Bull. Mar. Sci. 72(3):923-939. (Ref. 75959)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01175 (0.00476 - 0.02897), b=2.88 (2.66 - 3.10), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100).
