FAMILY, III-TOBPEDINID^. 



733 



Family, III— TORPEDINID^. 



Trunk broad and disk smooth. Anterior nasal valves confluent and forming a quadrangular flap. 

 Tail with a rayed dorsal (except in Temera) and caudal fln : also a longitudinal fold along either side. An 

 electric organ* situated between the pectoral fin and the head. 



GeoyrapUcal distribulion.-'YvoY^cA sub-tropical and temperate seas. In India they do not appear to be 

 used as food. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 



1. Narcine. Two dorsal fins : spiracles immediately behind the eyes, p. 733. 



2. Astrape. One dorsal fin, p. 733. 



Genus, 1— Narcine, Eenle. 



Disk distinct from the tail, which has a lateral fold on either side and is longer than the disk Spiracles close 

 hehind the eyes: nasal valves confluent, forming a quadrangular flap. Teeth nearly flat, with a central po^nt Two 

 dorsal fins, the anterior behind the ventral, and usLll,, smaller than the posterior. An electnc apparatus present. 



Geographical distribution.— Tropica], and sub-tropical seas. 



1. Narcine timlei, Plate CXCII, fig. 3. 



Raja timlei, Bl. Schn. p. 359. , ..t ,7 m 1 •• 



Baja, Russell, Fish. Viza^. i, pp. 1 and 2, and Temeree, pi. 1, and Nulla Temeree,^\. n. ^ ^. , 



Narcine timlei, Heinle, Narcine, p. 34, t. ii, f. 1 ; MiiU. and Henle, p. 130; Bleeker, Beng 80 and 

 Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv, 18.j3, p. 512 ; Dumeril, Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 273, and Hist. Nat. Poiss. 1, p. ol9 ; Kner, 

 Novara Fische, p. 417; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 4.V2. , tt , tt > -di 1 t! qa 



Narcine Indica, Henle, Narcm. p. 35. pi. ii, fig. 2; Miill. and Henle, p 1.30 ; Bleeker Beng. p. 80 ; 

 Dumeril, 1. c. ; Cantor, Catal. Mai. Fish. p. 417 ; Jerdon, M. J. L and Sc 1851, p. 148 ; Day,^Pish Mai. p. 2.0 

 Narcine microjjhthalma, macrura niid macidata, Dumeril, Rev. Zool. 18o2, pp. 2/4, L/0, ^/Z, ana iiisc. 

 Nat. Poiss. i, p. 518. 



Outline of di.sk somewhat rounded, while it is broader than long : along the side of the tail is a broad 

 skinny keel reaching the base of the caudal fin. Caudal portion of fish rather longer than the body. Nasal 

 valves contiuent, forming a quadrangular skinny flap which is rather elongated m the middle, fepiracle ]ust 

 behind the orbit and not tuberculated on the edge. Teef/i -flattened anteriorly, the internal ones with a small 

 median cusp : the dental plate only embraces the central half of either jaw, the hps bemg thickened and 

 continuous at the angles. The form of the dental plate varies, being either angular m the mandible the angle 

 pointing downwards or similar to what obtains in the upper jaw. Fins— the anterior dorsal usual y commences 

 ust behind the ventrals but occasionally over their posterior extremity, it is somewhat smaller than the 

 posterior : in the young its apes forms an angle, which in the adult becomes rounded The d^s^ance between 

 the two dorsals equals that between the posterior dorsal and the caudal. The size and shape of the two dorsals 

 is similar. Caudal with its hinder edge rounded and confluent with the inferior. Colours— body and bus 

 reddish-brown above, with numerous irregularly sized chocolate-coloured spots : lower surface white. 1 upu 

 triangular, apex below. Iris golden. In the immature the spots have a white margin. Some examples are 

 marked all over with large brown blotches much wider than the ground colours. In others no spots at all 

 exist. These differences in colour do not depend on sex, age, or locality. ■ i n 



Habitat.-Beiis of India and the Malay Archipelago. It attains at least eighteen mches m length. 

 " Out of the water they may be handled with impunity." — Cantor. 



Genus, II— AsTRAPB, Midler and Herde. 

 Tad with a fold on either side. Spiracles close behind the eyes, which last are minute Nasal valves 

 confluent, forming a large quadrangular flap. Teeth flattened or with a central elevation, the dental plate extending 

 slightly beyond the outer edge of the jaws. A single dorsal fin on the tail: caudal well developed. An etectric 

 apparatus on the side of the head between it and the pectoral fin. 



Geographical distribution.— 8ti3.s of India to the Malay Archipelago and China, also the Cape of Good 

 Hope and Madagascar. 



* For a description of the reouliar "Ap^,^reiI foUiculaire nerveux" of the Torpedo not possessed by other Plagiostomalanor 

 by Gynmotus or Melapterwrus. Sic, t>ee Boll, m Arch. Anat. Vh^jS. Berl. 1875 ; and on the immun.ty of this h»U Irom a selt-iulliccea 

 shucl;, J. bteiuer, Arcli. Anat. I'hys. Is74. 



