Western numbfish

2/22/2017

Western Numbfish, Narcine lasti. Source: CSIRO National Fish Collection. License: CC by Attribution

The western numbfish (Narcine lasti) is a small, plain yellow colored ray with medium-sized eyes placed on top of its body. They have a creamy underbelly that blends into their yellow dorsal side. Born at 8 cm long, the adults only reach about 37 cm in length. Both males and females mature at about 25 cm in length.

Seen in the outer continental shelf and upper slope off northwest Australia (Northern Territory to Western Australia), they forage for prawn and scampi in the muddy substrates. They are viviparous, giving birth to litters of 2 pups. The IUCN has assessed them as Least Concern (LC).

ever heard of this ray?

glossary

Continental shelf: Extends from a continent underwater, resulting in a shallow-water area.
Continental slope: The steep slope from a continental shelf to the ocean floor; usually around 20 km (12.4 miles) wide and made up of mud and silt substrate. It is an ideal area for deep sea fishing.
IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Pup: Give birth to baby sharks (pups).
Pups: Baby sharks.
Viviparous: Eggs hatch inside the female's body and the babies are fed by a placenta which transfers nourishment from the mother to the babies (via an umbilical cord which is connected to the baby shark behind the between the pectoral fins).