[SEMCO] Electric Ray spotted near shore in East Sandwich Estuary

[Leavitt, Dale]

Hi Mary,

Yours is the second reporting of torpedo rays in close to shore that I have heard of this summer. There was also a case reported a few weeks ago in the upper part of Narragansett Bay with very similar circumstances (if I remember correctly), i.e. a dog in the water made the unfortunate decision to poke at it.

Most interesting!

dale

Dale Leavitt
Associate Professor &
Aquaculture Extension Specialist
220 Marine & Natural Sciences Building
Roger Williams University
One Old Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809

401 450-2581 (mobile)

From: semco-bounces at whoi.edu [mailto:semco-bounces at whoi.edu] On Behalf Of Mary Beers
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:02 AM
To: SEMCO Whoi
Subject: [SEMCO] Electric Ray spotted near shore in East Sandwich Estuary


Burgess Society education staff out at the East Sandwich Game Farm on  Monday June 24 with Grade 7 students from the Wing School saw an Atlantic Torpedo close to the shore at Fisherman's Landing.   The fish ( rounded, lumpy body, broad fan-like end to tail, about 2 feet wide and 3 feet in length - we have pictures) was first spotted by a dog walker when her "water" dog yelped and favored its paw.  Is it unusual for this species to be way up in the estuary?  Is this a rare find? I have never seen one before even at the beach. It was not located on Tuesday.

Mary Beers
Education Director
Thornton Burgess Society

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