Mormyrops

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Mormyrops
Materiaux pour la faune du Congo (6299121746).jpg
Mormyrops masuianus (above), Mormyrops lineolatus (below)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osteoglossiformes
Family: Mormyridae
Genus: Mormyrops
J. P. Müller, 1843
Synonyms
  • Oxyrhynchus Leach 1818 non de Blainville 1926 non Brandegee

Mormyrops is a genus of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae from freshwater in Africa. They are characterized by an elongate head measuring twice as long as high, and no teeth on the palate or the tongue. [1] The genus includes the largest member of the mormyrid family, the cornish jack (Mormyrops anguilloides) at up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. [2]

Taxonomy and species

M. engystoma (top left),
M. microstoma (top right),
M. attenuatus (middle),
M. sirenoides (bottom) Materiaux pour la faune du Congo (6298589331).jpg
M. engystoma (top left),
M. microstoma (top right),
M. attenuatus (middle),
M. sirenoides (bottom)
Two long-nosed species, M. zanclirostris (shown) and M. boulengeri, are sometimes placed in their own genus Oxymormyrus instead Mormyrus zanclirostris.jpg
Two long-nosed species, M. zanclirostris (shown) and M. boulengeri, are sometimes placed in their own genus Oxymormyrus instead

According to FishBase, there are currently 21 recognized species in this genus. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormyridae</span> Family of ray-finned fishes

The Mormyridae, sometimes called "elephantfish", are a superfamily of weakly electric fish in the order Osteoglossiformes native to Africa. It is by far the largest family in the order, with around 200 species. Members of the family can be popular, if challenging, aquarium species. These fish have a large brain size and unusually high intelligence.

<i>Labeo</i> Genus of fishes

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<i>Synodontis</i> Genus of fishes

Synodontis is the largest genus of mochokid catfishes. It is the biggest genus within the 10 genera and 190 different species in the family Mochokidae. Synodontis has over 131 different species within the genus. Synodontis are also known as squeakers, due to their ability to make stridulatory sounds through their pectoral fin spines when handled or disturbed. Synodontis make a sound that sounds like squeaking by rubbing their spines together. They do this when they have been frightened or when they become angry. Synodontis may also squeak when they are taken out of the water. These catfish are small- to medium-sized fish with many species exhibiting attractive spotted markings. Some species are also known for naturally swimming belly-up, earning the name upside-down catfish. Some of these species are Synodontis contractus and Synodontis nigriventris. While some of these species are known to swim upside down, another species, Synodontis multipunctatus, is a brood parasitic cuckoo catfish,there are two other species Synodontis petricola and Synodontis grandiops are also called brood parasitic cuckoo catfish.

<i>Distichodus</i> Genus of fishes

Distichodus is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Distichodontidae found in Africa.

<i>Gnathonemus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Gnathonemus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Mormyridae, the elephantfishes. The fishes in this genus are found in subsaharan Africa.

<i>Marcusenius</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Marcusenius is a genus of the elephantfish group native to Africa. Its members are highly diverse in size, with the smallest species reaching less than 15 cm (6 in) and the largest more than 1 m (3.3 ft).

<i>Mormyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Mormyrus is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Mormyridae. They are weakly electric, enabling them to navigate, to find their prey, and to communicate with other electric fish.

<i>Pollimyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Pollimyrus is a genus of elephantfishes native to Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish jack</span> Species of ray-finned fish

The Cornish jack, Mormyrops anguilloides, is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, native to quiet waters in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. The largest species in its family, the Cornish jack is a nocturnal group hunter of smaller fishes, using electricity to locate its prey and communicate with other members of its group. It is a commercial game fish valued for its size and taste.

African carp is a common name that may refer to several different species of fishes:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormyrinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

The subfamily Mormyrinae contains all but one of the genera of the African freshwater fish family Mormyridae in the order Osteoglossiformes. They are often called elephantfish due to a long protrusion below their mouths used to detect buried invertebrates that is suggestive of a tusk or trunk. They can also be called tapirfish.

Brienomyrus is a genus of small elephantfish in the family Mormyridae from Africa. Usually available in the pet trade, these fish are commercially referred to as baby whales or baby whalefish.

<i>Campylomormyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Campylomormyrus is a genus of elephantfish in the family Mormyridae.

<i>Cyphomyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Cyphomyrus is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Mormyridae, the freshwater elephantfishes.

<i>Heteromormyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Heteromormyrus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Mormyridae, the elephantfishes. These fishes are found in southern and central Africa in Angola, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, maybe, Zimbabwe.

<i>Ivindomyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Ivindomyrus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Mormyridae, the elephantfishes. These fishes are found in rivers in Middle Africa.

<i>Myomyrus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Myomyrus is a genus of elephantfish in the family Mormyridae. Its members reach about 25–30 cm (10–12 in) in length and are restricted to the Congo River Basin in Africa.

<i>Paramormyrops</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Paramormyrops is a genus of elephantfish in the family Mormyridae from Africa.

<i>Petrocephalus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Petrocephalus is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Mormyridae. All the fish species of this genus are endemic to Africa.

<i>Stomatorhinus</i> Genus of ray-finned fishes

Stomatorhinus is a genus of small elephantfish in the family Mormyridae.

References

  1. Günther, A. (1866). Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. The Trustees.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Mormyrops". FishBase . May 2017 version.
  3. "Mormyridae" (PDF). Deeplyfish- fishes of the world. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Mormyrops". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 4 November 2024.