Malapterurus electricus


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 and 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

The genus name Malapterurus comes from Ancient Greek μαλακός meaning "soft", πτερόν, meaning "wing", and οὐρά, meaning "tail". The specific epithet electricus is Latin for electric.

Distribution

In Africa, it occurs in the Nile and tropical Africa and also in Nasarawa state of Nigeria In Lafia, 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. 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 5,000 years ago.

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.

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 are 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 in the wild, but has an average size of 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 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 is necessary. It is illegal to possess any species of electric catfish for personal or commercial use in Florida.