Title: Freshwater Fish
Species #: 79
Common Name: Electric Catfish Scientific Name:
Malapterurus electricus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order:
Family:
Siluriformes
Malapteruridae
Geography / Habitat: Africa: occurs in much of the Nile system (exclusive of Lake Victoria), the Lake Turkana, Lake Chad and Senegal basins, throughout the Niger system, and in smaller southward flowing basins in west Africa. Occur among rocks or roots; favors sluggish or standing water. Life Strategy: Active at night, feeding mainly on fish stunned by electric shocks. The electric organ, capable of discharging 300-400 V, is derived from pectoral muscle and surrounds almost the entire body. It is used both for prey capture and defense. Breeding pairs of nest in holes about 3 meters in length excavated in clay banks in water 1–3 meters deep. Food / Feed Strategy: It is an opportunistic feeder and will feed on any readily available prey in the habitat. These fish are slow-moving, deliberate feeders with infrequent, heavy meals. Its electric discharge is used to stun prey.
• • •
Body Form or Style: Compressiform Swim / Locomotion Style: Amiiform Mouth Position: Subterminal
Citation: Search FishBase. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. <http://www.fishbase.org/search.php>. Name, Common. "Marine Fish Species." AC Tropical Fish & Aquarium. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/marinefish/.>