Electric ray gives birth to 16 babies

A rare electric ray has given birth to 16 babies at a sealife centre.

Published: 8:00AM GMT 09 Jan 2010

It is believed to be the first time the marbled electric ray - which can give a shock almost as strong as mains power - has given birth in captivity in Britain.

The baby rays are in good health and feeding happily on slivers of squid in a nursery tank at Brighton Sealife Centre in Brighton, East Sussex.

The mother was delivered to the centre in September by a local fisherman who was surprised to find the ray among his catch.

Marbled electric rays, or Torpedo marmorata, are usually found in the Mediterranean.

Curator Alex Gerrard said: "She settled in well, but started to go off her food mid-way through December.

"We were worried she might be ill but realise now it was because she was ready to go into labour."

The mum is the size of a large dinner plate and her babies are each as big as the bottom of a coffee cup.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6953481/Electric-ray-gives-birth-to-16-babies.html