ISBN: | 978-5-5105-8072-3 |
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The coffin ray (Hypnos monopterygius) is a species of electric ray endemic to Australia, where it is common in inshore waters shallower than 80 m (260 ft). It is the sole member of its genus and of the subfamily Hypninae in the family Torpedinidae, which some taxonomists prefer to elevate to the full family rank as Hypnidae. This small species typically reaches 40 cm (16 in) in length. Greatly enlarged pectoral fins and an extremely short tail, coupled with diminutive dorsal and caudal fins all concentrated towards the rear, give the coffin ray a distinctive pear-like shape. It is a varying shade of brown in color above, and has tiny eyes and a large, highly distensible mouth.