| Malapterurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Malapterurus electricus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Malapteruridae |
| Genus: | Malapterurus Lacépède, 1803 |
| Type species | |
| Silurus electricus Gmelin, 1789 | |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Malapterurus is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the electric catfish family (Malapteruridae). It includes 18 species. [1] [2]
The genus Malapterurus is found throughout western and central tropical Africa and the Nile River. They occur in all major freshwater systems including the Buzi, Niger, Ogooué, Omo, Sanaga, Sabi-Lundi, Senegal, Shari, Congo, and Zambezi River basins, as well as Lakes Albert, Chad, Kainji, Tanganyika, and Turkana. [3]
Malapterurus have an elongate and cylindrical body that gives them the general appearance of a sausage. [3] The eyes are small, the lips are rather thick, and the snout is rounded with widely separated nostrils. The gill openings are narrow and restricted to the sides. Malapterurus species have three pairs of barbels, and lack a dorsal fin. The pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins are rounded. [3] The swimbladder has two elongate posterior chambers. [1]
Species in Malapterurus are generally grayish-brown on the back and sides, fading to an off white or cream color on the ventral surfaces of the head and body. There are irregular black spots or blotches randomly distributed on the sides of the body. The posterior half of the caudal peduncle usually has a dark brown or black vertical bar and a cream vertical bar immediately before it. The edges of the anal and caudal fins have a cream margin, and the base of the caudal fin has a cream region and a dark brown crescent-shaped band immediately after it. [3]
The electrogenic organ is derived from anterior body musculature and lines the body cavity. [1] A fish that is 50 centimetres (19 in) in length can discharge up to 350 V. [1]
M. electricus is one of the few electric species that have been conditioned by means of reward to discharge on signal. As reported in the New York Times on April 2, 1967, researcher Dr. Frank J. Mandriota of City College of New York conditioned a M. electricus to discharge on a light signal for a reward of live worms delivered automatically. This is a first in conditioning that modified neither glandular nor muscular responses.
M. electricus can grow as large as 122 centimetres (48 in) TL and 20 kilograms (44 pounds). [3]
Malapterurus species are generally found among rocks or roots in turbid or black waters with low visibility. They favor sluggish or standing water. [3]
M. electricus is a voracious piscivore. It uses its electrical discharges to stun prey. 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. [3]
Breeding pairs of M. electricus nest in holes about 3 metres (10 ft) in length excavated in clay banks in water 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) deep. [3]
The electrical discharge of M. electricus is not known to be fatal to humans. [3]
M. electricus is eaten as food in certain parts of Africa. Along the shores of Lake Kainji, smoked electric catfish is a popular delicacy. [3] M. electricus is also sometimes encountered as an aquarium fish. [3]
There are currently 18 recognized species in this genus: [4]
Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores, and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the candiru, Vandellia cirrhosa. Neither the armour-plated types nor the naked types have scales. Despite their name, not all catfish have prominent barbels or "whiskers". Members of the Siluriformes order are defined by features of the skull and swimbladder. Catfish are of considerable commercial importance; many of the larger species are farmed or fished for food. Many of the smaller species, particularly the genus Corydoras, are important in the aquarium hobby. Many catfish are nocturnal, but others are crepuscular or diurnal.
Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a family of catfishes. This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. Several species of this family have the ability to generate electricity, delivering a shock of up to 350 volts from its electric organ. Electric catfish are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River. Electric catfish are usually nocturnal and carnivorous. Some species feed primarily on other fish, incapacitating their prey with electric discharges, but others are generalist bottom foragers, feeding on things like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus. The largest can grow to about 1.2 meters long, but most species are far smaller.
Malapterurus electricus is a thickset fish with six mouth barbels and a single fin on its back, just anterior to the rounded tail fin. It is brownish or grayish, irregularly spotted with black, and attains a length and weight of about 1.2 metres and 23 kilograms (51 lb) M. electricus is capable of generating and controlling the discharge of up to 450 volts of electricity. It uses its power to defend itself and to capture prey.
Listrura is a genus of pencil catfishes native to South America.
The Bagridae are a family of catfish that are native to Africa (Bagrus) and Asia from Japan to Borneo. It includes about 245 species. These fish are commonly known as naked catfishes or bagrid catfishes.
Hypophthalmus is a genus of long-whiskered catfishes native to freshwater in tropical and subtropical South America.
Breitensteinia is a genus of catfishes of the family Akysidae. It includes three species.
Pseudobagarius is a genus of catfishes of the family Akysidae.
Paraplotosus is a genus of catfishes native to Australasia and South-east Asia.
The bayad, is a species of bagrid catfish from Africa.
Platystacus cotylephorus, the banded banjo, is a species of banjo catfish. It is the only member of its genus. The genus Platystacus is the sister group to a clade containing Aspredo and Aspredinichthys. P. cotylephorus originates from coastal waters and lower portions of rivers of northern South America, from Venezuela to northern Brazil.
Malapterurus barbatus is a species of electric catfish native to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. This species grows to a length of 21.5 centimetres (8.5 in) SL.
Malapterurus melanochir is a species of electric catfish endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it occurs in the upper and middle Congo River basin. This species grows to a length of 98 centimetres (39 in) SL.
Malapterurus occidentalis is a species of electric catfish native to Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, where it occurs in the Gambia and Géba Rivers. This species grows to a length of 32 centimetres (13 in) SL.
Malapterurus punctatus is a species of electric catfish native to Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This species grows to a length of 21.49 centimetres (8.46 in) SL.
Malapterurus stiassnyae is a species of electric catfish native to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Members of this species grow to a length of 30 centimetres (12 in) SL.
Malapterurus tanganyikaensis is a species of electric catfish native to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs in the bordering nations of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. This species grows to a length of 49.5 centimetres (19.5 in) SL.
Malapterurus tanoensis is a species of electric catfish native to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana where it occurs in the Ofin and Tano Rivers.
Malapterurus teugelsi is a species of electric catfish endemic to Guinea where it occurs in the Kogon River. This species grows to a length of 21.2 centimetres (8.3 in) SL.
Malapterurus thysi is a species of electric catfish endemic to the Ivory Coast, where it occurs in the Cess (Nipoué) and Cavally river basins. This species grows to a length of 24 centimetres (9.4 in) SL.
