''Benthobatis yangi'', the Taiwanese blind electric ray, is a species of fish in the family Narcinidae endemic to Taiwan. Its natural habitat is the upper continental slopes of coastal waters.

Description

Relatively few specimens are known so far. Mature individuals of this species reach a length of 19.1 - 21.5 cm. Both dorsal and ventral surfaces are dark brown to purplish-black, with irregular whitish blotches on the belly. Gill slits are very narrow; the second dorsal fin is slightly larger than first.

Distribution and habitat

The species appears to have a very limited distribution on continental shelves at a depth of less than 300 m, on the coast of southwestern Taiwan (off

Tungkang Donggang Township or Tungkang Township () is an urban township in west-central Pingtung County, Taiwan. Located on Taiwan's western coastline, along the Taiwan Strait, it has one of Taiwan's largest fishing harbors. Dapeng Bay with its national ...

Feeding habits

Like all species of electric rays, ''B. yangi'' uses its electric shocks to paralyze prey. Remains of polychaete worms are found in some specimens, meaning that these animals are the preferred prey of ''B. yangi''.

Conservation

''B. yangi'' is not a target of fishery but appears to be taken (and discarded) as bycatch in shrimp fisheries, which in the region use very fine nets that likely prevent capture avoidance by the animal. Based on the very limited distribution and possible high rate of bycatch mortality, the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

has classified the species as

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References

Narcinidae Fish described in 2003 Fish of Taiwan Endemic fauna of Taiwan {{rajiformes-stub