Narcine bentuviai, a new torpedinoid ray from the Northern Red Sea

Abstract

ABSTRACT A new species of electric ray, Narcine bentuviai, superfamily Torpedinoidea, family Narcinidae, is described from seven specimens collected from 80–200 m in the Gulf of Elat (= Gulf of 'Aqaba) off the Sinai Peninsula. It is readily distinguished from the 12 other described species of the genus Narcine by having a much larger first than second dorsal fin and by a distinctive color pattern: brown with a pair of large black spots posteriorly on the disc, one on the first dorsal fin, one on the upper lobe of the caudal fin, and blackish over most of the dorsal surface of the electric organs. Heteronarce Regan is regarded as a junior synonym of Narcine Henle.