Malapterurus electricus

M.electricus, 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 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.

Malapterurus electricus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Malapteruridae
Genus: Malapterurus
Species:
M. electricus
Binomial name
Malapterurus electricus
(Gmelin, 1789)
Synonyms
  • Silurus electricus Gmelin, 1789

Description

Distribution

In Africa :Nile and tropical Africa (exclusive of Lake Victoria), the Lake Turkana, Lake Chad and Senegal basins.

Biology

Occurs among rock favors 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

Life History

This is an old world catfish and it is reputed that Doctors in ancient Egypt used shocks from the Electric Catfish to reduce the pain of arthritis. This trait is still used today in some areas. It also has the earliest reference of them as hieroglyphics on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs some 5000 years.

Economy

Malapterurus electricus is eaten as food in parts of Africa. Being a food fish, M. electricus is also encountered in the pet trade as an aquarium fish.

The electric organs of Malapterurus have been used in studies of neuronal metabolism, axonal transport.

Migration

Malapterurus electricus have been a sea torpedo that managed to migrate upstream.

Reproduction

In their natural habitat they form pairs and lay their eggs in excavated cavities or holes. The male takes the eggs into his mouth.There have been rumours that they are mouth brooders.It is also unknown how the fry is immune to the electric shocks by the parents

References

Norris, S.M., 2002. A revision of the African electric catfishes, family Malapteruridae , with erection of a new genus and descriptions of fourteen new species, and an annotated bibliography. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 289:155 p

Sagua, V. 1987. On a new species of electric catfish from Kainji, Nigeria, with some observations on its biology. J. Fish Biol., 30: 75-89.

the male tends toclutch. Others report that the male takes the eggs into his mouth. It is also unknown how the fry is immune to the electric shocks by the parents

In the aquarium

Malapterurus electricus is sometimes encountered in aquarium supply stores. It can reach a maximum length of over 1 meter in the wild, but has an average size of 12 inches in the aquarium. It is quite hardy and greedily accepts most foods, although some experimentation may be required to find the best food. The only other animals that are compatible with this species are snails, which they will ignore. A minimum aquarium size of 55 gallons is required, with bogwood or pieces of PVC pipe. They are active burrowers and will often remove the gravel from under their favorite hiding spot. A minimum temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary. It is illegal to possess any species of electric catfish for personal or commercial use in Florida.[2]

Zoos in North America

References
  1. Azeroual, A.; Entsua-Mensah, M.; Getahun, A.; Lalèyè, P. & Kazembe, J. (2010). "Malapterurus electricus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T182850A7985142. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T182850A7985142.en. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  2. "Prohibited Species List". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
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