Habitat Preferences, Movement, Size Frequency Patterns and Reproductive Seasonality of the Lesser Electric Ray, Narcine brasiliensis

Abstract

The lesser electric ray, Narcine brasiliensis, is often used in neurochemical studies of cholinergic neurons. Data on habitat preferences, seasonal movements, growth rates and reproductive seasonality are presented. Narcine brasiliensis is highly localized within an area, concentrating in surf zones adjacent to barrier beaches and on offshore sand bars in warm months and moving offshore in winter. Females larger than 29 em total length are reproductively active and give birth to less than 20 young in August and September. Young are estimated to attain a size of 20 - 29 em TL at the end of their first year. This species is potentially vulnerable to overharvest as a result of its low rate of reproduction and localized distribution.