Atlantic Torpedo Ray

Atlantic torpedo rays rest buried in the volcanic sand on the deeper slopes of the seamount, detectable only by the outline of their circular disc and twin dorsal fins breaking the sediment surface. They are capable of generating electrical discharges exceeding 200 volts from specialised electric organs derived from modified gill muscles, used both to stun prey fish and as a defensive deterrent — divers who inadvertently contact them receive a memorable shock. Their hunting strategy is entirely passive: they wait motionless until small fish approach within strike range, then engulf the prey with a rapid upward lunge assisted by the electrical discharge.