ELECTRIC CATFISH

Malapterurus electricus

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IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED

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ELECTRIC CATFISH

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Malapterurus electricus Malapterurus electricus Malapterurus electricus Malapterurus electricus (Gmelin, 1789)

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Overview

Biology

Source and Additional Information
FishBase external link
 
See FishBase for additional references external link
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Occurs among rocks or roots; favors sluggish or standing water. 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. Electric organ discharge (EOD) is intermittent and the amplitude increases with size of the fish (Ref. 10011). Responds immediately to cyclic light changes, exhibiting maximum EOD activity shortly after sunset and lowest activity just after sunrise (Ref. 10798). Its EOD duration decreased from 1.5 to 0.3 ms in response to increased temperature from 15 to 30°C (Ref. 10838). Forms pairs and breeds in excavated cavities or holes (Ref. 7248).