A large species (up to 2m total length) Dark brown to black on the back, paler below. Almost oval in shape with a thick tail. No barbs. Electric organs on the wings, perhaps used in hunting.

T. fairchildi is a common inhabitant of the continental shelf and upper slope around New Zealand's North, South and Stewart Islands and Chatham Rise. There are also isolated records from Challenger Plateau. It occurs from 5 to 1,135 m depth, but is most frequently recorded in research trawls between 100 to 300 m (Cox and Francis 1997, Paul and Heath 1997, Anderson et al. 1998). T. fairchildi inhabits usually sandy or muddy bottoms on the outer continental shelf but is occasionally encountered inshore, including on shallow rocky reefs.

Probably feeds a night. Diet includes demersal fishes, such as red cod (Pseudophycis bacchus), crustaceans (crabs, shrimps, mantis shrimps) and shellfish.

Reproduction is ovoviviparous. There are only two reports of pregnant females, both reported litter size as eight (four embryos in each uterus) (Hamilton 1883, Graham 1956). Nursery areas are not known. Size at birth and maturity is unknown. The smallest pregnant female reported was 91 cm TL. A large electric ray can stun a diver. Very little is known about the biology of this ray.

Duffy, C. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003) 2003. Torpedo fairchildi. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. . Downloaded on 06 February 2014.