Specimen image via iDigBio · BY-NC
Malapterurus electricus
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Species
Least ConcernSPECIES
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassTeleostei
- OrderSiluriformes
- FamilyMalapteruridae
Habitatfreshwater
Observations recorded909
via GBIF · IUCN
Museum specimens
- Specimen records
- 371
- With media
- 27
- Family
- Malapteruridae
- Collections
- RBINS-SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE
- Recorded in
- Dr Congo, Burundi
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- electric fish
- Parent taxon
- Malapterurus
- Image
- Malapterurus electricus 1.jpg
Show 7 more facts
- taxon rank
- species
- IUCN conservation status
- Least Concern
- taxon name
- Malapterurus electricus
- Commons category
- Malapterurus electricus
- Commons gallery
- Malapterurus electricus
- taxon common name
- African Electric Catfish
- short name
- M. electricus
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~3 min read
Encyclopedic overview
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 (3 ft 11 in) 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.
Etymology
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Malapterurus electricus” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.