Feature:
Ornate Sleeper-ray
"The Ornate sleeper-ray (Electrolux addisoni), is a new species of sleeper ray in the family Narkidae, & the only member of the genus Electrolux. It lives on reefs feeding on polychaete worms & small crustaceans...It is endemic to the coast of South Africa. It was first recorded in 1984 but was not described until 2007. It was ranked as the number one newly described species of 2007 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.
Description
The ornate sleeper-ray is easily distinguished from other narkids by its striking color pattern consisting of a dark brown dorsal surface of the disc with numerous small pale yellow spots & a series of concentric black stripes. It can also be distinguished by its large spiracular papillae... The conspicuous color pattern of the species may act as a warning signal to other animals, when closely approached the ray has been seen to make a possible threat display...
Conservation
As this species has only been recorded in 4 locations its conservation status is unknown but ...the species...needs to be critically assessed. Its habitat is intensively used for recreational diving, commercial fishing & there is increasing development along the coastline which means that it may be at risk from pollution, habitat degradation, & from being disturbed by divers..."
Information
Range: South Africa, Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape Province, to just north of Durban, kwaZulu-Natal in water less than 50m deep.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Torpediniformes
Family: Narkidae
Genus: Electrolux
Species: Electrolux addisoni
https://animals.fandom.com/wiki/Ornate_Sleeper-ray
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