Electric catfish
📖 Overview
Electric catfish (Malapterurus punctatus), first described by Norris, 2002 is a medium-sized fish in the family Malapteruridae (order Siluriformes). Adults typically reach 21.50 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Vulnerable.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 38 - 39. Diagnosis: tooth patches broad; 8-10 anal-fin rays; 20 caudal-fin rays (nearly always ii-7-8-iii); 38-39 vertebrae; body and head only slightly depressed; snout and head relatively blunt (in dorsal and lateral profile); eyes more or less lateral; body colored in shades of grey; lower lip and underside of head not especially darkened or stippled; dorsum and flank finely spotted; paired fins frequently spotted in adults; caudal fin darkly pigmented with a pale distal margin, but no pale basal crescent (young up to 70mm SL have a pale spot at the base of the caudal fin but no well-developed crescent or bar) . Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Electric catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Electric catfish |
| 🇫🇷French | Silure électrique |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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