Electric catfish

Electric catfish
Electric catfish
Malapterurus electricus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Malapteruridae
Bleeker, 1858
Genera

Malapterurus
Paradoxoglanis

Electric catfish is the common name for the catfish (order Siluriformes) family Malapteruridae. This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis with 19 species.[1] Several species of this family have the ability to produce an electric shock of up to 350 volts using electroplaques of an electric organ.[2] Electric catfish are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River.[3] Electric catfish are usually nocturnal and feed primarily on other fish, incapacitating their prey with electric discharges.[2]

Description

Malapteruridae is the only group of catfish with a well-developed electrogenic organ; however, electroreceptive systems are widespread in catfishes.[4] The electrogenic organ is derived from anterior body musculature and lines the body cavity.[3] Electric catfish do not have dorsal fins or fin spines. They have three pairs of barbels (the nasal pair is absent).[3] The swim bladder with elongate posterior chambers, two chambers in Malapterrus and three in Paradoxoglanis.[3]

It is one of the few electric species that have been conditioned by means of reward to discharge on signal. As reported in the New York Times, April 2, 1967, a researcher, Dr. Frank J. Mandriota of City College, NY, conditioned a M. Electricus to discharge on a light signal for a reward of live worms delivered automatically. This is a first in conditioning that modified neither glandular nor muscular responses.

They can grow as large as 100 centimetres (39 in) SL and about 20 kilograms (44 lb) in weight.[3][2] All Paradoxoglanis species are much smaller.[3] Most malapterurids are dwarf species less than 30 cm (12 inches) long.

Relationship to humans

The Nile fish was well known to the ancient Egyptians. Stories say that the Egyptians used this type of catfish when treating some nervous diseases. They would use only smaller fish, as a large fish may generate an electric shock of up to 300 or 400 volts. The Egyptians have depicted the fish in their mural paintings and elsewhere; the first known depiction of an electric catfish is on the slate palette of the pre-dynastic Egyptian ruler Narmer, about 3100 BC.[4] An account of its electric properties was given by an Arab physician of the 12th century; then as now the fish was known by the suggestive name of Raad, abo el ra3ash,el ra3ad or Raash, which means thunder (literally trembler, shaker).

Though the shock an electric catfish can generate is not known to be fatal to humans,[2] the catfish does use its electricity as a weapon to ward off predators.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

  1. ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  2. ^ a b c d Ng, Heok Hee (2000). "Malapterurus electricus". Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Malapterurus_electricus.html. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7. 
  4. ^ a b Howes, George J. (1985). "The phylogenetic relationships of the electric catfish family Malapteruridae (Teleostei: Siluroidei)". Journal of Natural History 19: 37–67. doi:10.1080/00222938500770031. 


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • electric catfish — noun freshwater catfish of the Nile and tropical central Africa having an electric organ • Syn: ↑Malopterurus electricus • Hypernyms: ↑silurid, ↑silurid fish • Member Holonyms: ↑Malopterurus, ↑genus Malopterurus …   Useful english dictionary

  • electric catfish — a freshwater fish, Malapterurus electricus, of the Nile and tropical central Africa, that discharges electric shocks to immobilize prey and defend itself. * * * ▪ fish  any of about 18 widely distributed freshwater catfish species native to… …   Universalium

  • electric catfish — Malapterurus electricus Malapterurus electricus prop. n. (Zool.) The species name of the {electric catfish}, a freshwater catfish of the Nile and tropical central Africa having an electric organ. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • electric catfish — elektrinis šamas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Malapterurus electricus angl. electric catfish rus. электрический сом ryšiai: platesnis terminas – elektriniai šamai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • electric catfish — noun common name for the catfish (order Siluriformes) family Malapteruridae …   Wiktionary

  • Electric field proximity sensing — or EFPS is a sensory system that relies on the fact that an electric field can be perturbed by the existence of a nearby object, provided it is at least slightly conductive.EFPS systems today are used in a wide variety of industrial and… …   Wikipedia

  • catfish — /kat fish /, n. pl. (esp. collectively) catfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) catfishes. 1. any of the numerous fishes of the order or suborder Nematognathi (or Siluroidei), characterized by barbels around the mouth and the… …   Universalium

  • Catfish — For other uses, see Catfish (disambiguation). Catfish Temporal range: Late Cretaceous – present Black bullhead Scientific classificati …   Wikipedia

  • electric fish — noun : any of several fishes (as the electric eel, electric catfish, electric ray) able to communicate an electric shock by means of special organs * * * electric fish, any one of about 250 species of fish having an electric organ and able to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Electric organ — The electric organ is a muscular organ common to all electric fish used for the purposes of creating an electric field; a behavior used for navigation, communication or even incapacitation of prey. Electrocytes Electrocytes, electroplaques or… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”