OSTEICHTHYES: ORDER: MALAPTERURIDAE: Malapterurus

Malapterurus electricus (Gmelin, 1789)

Electric catfish

Photo & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland

Range: Warm lake and river waters of tropical Africa.

Diagnosis: A stubby, cigar-shaped fish with small scales, a far posterior dorsal fin, small eyes, and electric discharge cells.

Description: A large catfish that may reach 25 inches/60 cm in total length. The head is blunt and slightly depressed at the tip. Lower lip barbels much longer than uppers. Eye small and indistinct. Gill slit a long, nearly straight structure. Pectorals short, transparent, not reaching back as far as any other fins. The single small dorsal's origin (front edge) well behind origin of anal fin. Pelvic fins smaller than anal, not or just barely in contact with anal. Tail fin blunt and rounded.

Young specimens are pale gray and pinkish. There are black bands extending from the dorsal fin to the anus, another at the base of the tail, and a third midway through the tail fin. Between the two body bands is a broad white band. These dissipate in adults, with only a trace of the caudal fin band remaining (see photo above).

Natural History: Electric catfishes are perhaps second only to electric eels in the discharge they can produce, and even a small catfish can deliver a painful jolt to a human. As residents of extremely murky bodies of water, it is most likely that the electrical field is used to both detect and stun passing prey. These catfishes are "sit-and-wait" predators and very poor swimmers. They must depend on surprise and the great suction of rapidly opening the huge mouth to capture food.

Reproduction:

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Type Specimen: Neotype BMNH 1907.12.2.2547

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