# Common Torpedo (*Torpedo torpedo*)

> The common torpedo (Torpedo torpedo) is a Mediterranean electric ray that stuns prey with up to 220 volts. Adults reach 60 cm and 8 kg, and are listed Vulnerable.

- **Category:** Fish
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** Coastal Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/electric-ray/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Chondrichthyes
- **Order:** Torpediniformes
- **Family:** Torpedinidae
- **Genus:** Torpedo

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Torpedo torpedo |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Sandy and muddy seabeds |
| Lifespan | 10–15 years |
| Weight | 5–10 kg |
| Top speed | up to 10 km/h |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Living battery on the seabed

Modified muscle organs generate electric shocks to stun fish and deter predators. A rounded disc and small eyes suit buried ambush on sand and mud.

## Stunned fish and crustaceans

Buried rays discharge when prey approaches, then swallow immobilised fish whole. Shocks also protect against sharks and divers who step on them.

## Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic

Coastal sands from Norway to South Africa, common in the Mediterranean. Slow movement relies on camouflage and electric defence.

## Vulnerable to trawling

IUCN lists common torpedo Vulnerable. Bottom trawls capture buried rays; low reproduction limits recovery.

## Frequently asked questions

### How strong is an electric ray shock?

Common torpedo can deliver roughly 200+ volts — enough to stun fish and startle humans.

### Can electric rays kill people?

Shocks are painful and can cause injury, but fatalities are extremely rare.

### Why is the common torpedo Vulnerable?

Bottom trawling and coastal fishing mortality outweigh slow breeding capacity.

### Do electric rays bury in sand?

Yes — they hide under sand with eyes exposed, ambushing prey electrically.

### Is torpedo named after the ray?

Yes — naval torpedoes took their name from the Latin for electric ray.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/electric-ray/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.