Observations on feeding, growth and electric discharge of newborn Torpedo ocellata (chondrichthyes, batoidei)

Newly born and neonate Torpedo ocellata were obtained from gravid females caught during the autumn off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The young torpedos, which weighed about 11 g, were fed with live Blennius pavo Risso, and doubled their weight in about 4 months. The behaviour of the torpedo during feeding was examined and photographed. When attacking a fish, the torpedo emerges from being buried in the sand and assaults the approaching prey. First, the prey is trapped under the torpedo and then directed towards the ray's mouth by its body movements. Newborn and neonate torpedos are able to discharge their electric organ. The amplitude of the discharge of one day-old fish is approximately 4 V. It increases dramatically during the first three weeks of life to 20 V, reaching an asymptotic level of about 26 V, by the end of the fourth month.