Narcine oculifera Carvalho, Compagno & Mee, 2002
Bigeye numbfish

Family:  Narcinidae (Numbfishes)
Max. size:  35 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range - 25 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 109-109. Dorsal with irregular reticulated light brown to reddish-brown pattern over disc, pelvic fins and tail, demarcating white or creamy-white oval; reniform and circular spots of variable sizes over disc, and small white spots on dorsal and caudal fins. Eyes large and bulging. Circular spiracles with markedly elevated rims and complete antero-lateral margin. Interorbital distance greater than interspiracular distance. First dorsal fin greater than second in height. Individual teeth with small lateral cusplets; upper and lower tooth bands roughly equal in width and broadly rounded.
Biology:  Occurs above sandy bottom near rocky reef areas. Females reaches maturity at 32 cm TL, males at ca. 24 cm TL; born at ca. 12 cm TL (Ref. 114953).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 07 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.