Electric ray Narcine timlei (Torpediniformes: Narcinidae) from Chilika lagoon, Odisha, India.

Abstract

The electric ray, Narcine timlei (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), was recorded from the Chilika lagoon during March 2013 at site (19039’43.1” N; 85030’03.7” E), which is approximately 4 km from the New Mouth area. This is the first record of the occurrence of an electric ray from Chilika lagoon as also from Indian brackishwater ecosystems. Later five more specimens of N. timlei were recorded during June 2013 from ‘Khonda’ catches near Nalaban sanctuary and at Satpada , indicating presence of the species well within the lagoon. The occurrence of N. timlei in Chilika lagoon can be mainly attributed to the enhanced salinity regime during the post-restoration period. Electric rays are amongst the rare and data deficient fishes of the world. The occurrence of the species in the lagoon, brought out through this study, thus needs to be viewed seriously with regard to conservation of the species and the lagoon as forming suitable habitat.