coffin ray known coffin ray species electric ray endemic australia common waters shallower sole member family small species typically reaches length greatly enlarged pectoral fins extremely short tail coupled dorsal caudal fins concentrated rear coffin ray distinctive pear like shape varying shade brown color tiny eyes large highly mouth sluggish nocturnal coffin ray sandy muddy habitats bury daytime produce powerful electric shock reaching volts attack defense species predator feeds mainly benthic bony fishes fish approaching exceeding size occasion consume invertebrates small rats reproduction viviparous developing embryos yolk produced milk female gives birth pups summer coffin ray deliver severe albeit non fatal shock human valued commercially hardy usually survive captured discarded listed species concern population threatened human activity taxonomy phylogeny scientific reference coffin ray written english zoologist botanist accompany illustrations beached fish published work interpreted specimen calling single latin independently french zoologist described new electric ray volume journal revue based specimens collected new_south_wales named genus derived greek word sleep referring ray ability induce eventually recognized illustrated species described proper proposed replacement believed preoccupied butterfly genus international code nomenclature require change regarded junior synonym common coffin ray comes coffin like shape beached specimens death species referred electric ray short tail electric ray torpedo phylogenetic studies based morphology found closely related genus torpedo classify torpedo family subfamily hand believe distinctive merit separate family distribution habitat coffin ray wide distribution tropical warm temperate australian waters western range extends south australia western australia eastern new_south_wales queensland occur victoria tasmania common dwelling species typically found close shore deeper recorded deep favors habitats sandy muddy bottoms including beaches bays found rocky coral reefs description unusual pear like shape coffin ray distinguishes rays body large kidney shaped electric organs visible sides head pectoral fins form greatly enlarged disc wide long thick center thin margins leading margin disc straight gently concave eyes minute elevated short close eyes slightly larger small individuals nostrils located ahead mouth connected pair broad grooves nostrils short curtain skin overlaps mouth mouth forms long wide arch slender jaws dramatically particularly adults rows small teeth jaw tooth long pairs gill slits small placed beneath disc pelvic fins relatively large merged pectoral fin disc form roughly circular secondary disc dorsal fins shaped like rounded located close caudal fin similar size nearly symmetrical rounded margin tail extremely short caudal fin barely extends past pelvic fin disc skin entirely devoid dermal denticles areas dorsal coloration ranges dark reddish brown grayish pinkish yellowish plain sparsely patterned irregular darker lighter markings underside pale species grows length possibly long biology ecology coffin ray slow weak swimmer moves forward motion nocturnal spends day buried sediment showing disturbed observed performing possible defense behavior loop mouth species stranded land tide survive water hours like electric rays coffin ray electric organs derived muscle tissue consist numerous vertical columns formed stack filled electric plates essentially acts battery capable generating volts electricity delivering span minutes successive shock weakening coffin ray employs electricity subdue prey deter predators diet coffin ray consists benthic bony fishes includes cephalopods occasion crustaceans worms rats recorded species coffin ray prey substrate head burying takes extremely large prey relative size observed individual long long tail prey fish protruding mouth dead specimens recovered apparently trying swallow large prey coffin ray viviparous developing embryos yolk later supplemented milk mother females birth litters pups summer measure approximately long males females attain sexual maturity long species known human interactions approached coffin ray tends place sea floor result divers swimmers shocked accidentally contacting life threatening shock severe shock perceived person pouring stream ray coffin ray economic value noted ray native caught incidentally commercial hardy usually returned water alive caught traps taken spear remains common widespread assessed species concern kept public requires moving food
Coffin ray