Banded knifefish
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; Aggressive . Inhabits turbid slow moving or standing waters . Found also in shallow edges of streams . Can survive when ditches, canals and small ponds dry out. . Feeds mainly at night on worms, insects (e.g. odonate larvae), shrimps, fish (preferably small characids, e.g. Ctenobrycon and Curimata) and plant matter. Oviparous . Mouth brooding by males is observed in this species . Males provide parental care in nests excavated for eggs and larvae . Uses its long anal fin for locomotion. Can distinguish between a `friendly neighbor' and a potentially `threatening stranger' based on electric organ discharge (EOD) waveform alone . Relationship between EOD pattern and agonistic behavior in this species has been demonstrated. Shows auditory abilities, responding best to a frequency of 1000 Hz, with an upper limit above 5000 Hz . Also responds to vibratory stimuli (water waves: 125-250 Hz) with transient increase in EOD rate . 'Prefers' temperatures of 24-25°C .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Banded knifefish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Parental care is provided by the male. The male sits on a depression with its anal fin expanded horizontally guarding a cluster of larvae. More larvae are spread out in leaf litter up to 2 m away .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 15; potamodromous . Subtropical; 22°C - 28°C Central and South America: southern Mexico to Paraguay, including Trinidad.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Banded knifefish · gymnotid eel |
| 🌍CES | paúhořovec příčnopruhý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Stribet elektroål |
| 🇩🇪German | Gebänderter Messeraal |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Veitsikala |
| 🇫🇷French | Gymnote rayé |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-elétrico-listrado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Гимнот |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Morena Mamacha |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carapus fasciatus | Pallas | 1769 | Synonym |
| Carapus macrourus | Cuvier | 1870 | Synonym |
| Giton fasciatus | Pallas | 1769 | Heterotypic |
| Gymnotum album | Pallas | 1769 | Heterotypic |
| Gymnotum fasciatum | Pallas | 1769 | Heterotypic |
| Gymnotus albus | Pallas | 1769 | Heterotypic |
| Gymnotus brachiurus | Bloch | 1786 | Synonym |
| Gymnotus carapus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Gymnotus fasciatus | Pallas | 1769 | Heterotypic |
| Gymnotus putaol | Lacepède | 1800 | Synonym |
| Sternopygus carapo | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Sternopygus carapus | Günther | 1870 | Heterotypic |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 224 records indexed .
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