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Malapterurus electricus is a species of electric catfish that occurs widely in Africa.^[1][2] This species grows to a length of 122 centimetres (48 in) SL. This species is important for subsistence fisheries and as a gamefish.^[2] This is also the most common of the electric catfish to appear in the pet trade. The electric catfish has been found in the natural waters of Hong Kong as an introduced species.^{[citation needed]}

In the aquarium[edit]

Malapterurus electricus is sometimes encountered in aquarium supply stores. It can reach a maximum length of over 1 meter in the wild, but has an average size of 12 inches 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 55 gallons 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 75 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary.^{[citation needed]} It is illegal to possess any species of electric catfish for personal or commercial use in Florida.^[3]

Zoos in North America[edit]

References[edit]

Electric Catfish Names

1. ^ ^abAzeroual, A.; Entsua-Mensah, M.; Getahun, A.; Lalèyè, P. & Kazembe, J. (2010). 'Malapterurus electricus'. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T182850A7985142. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T182850A7985142.en. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
2. ^ ^abFroese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). 'Malapterurus electricus' in FishBase. December 2011 version.
3. ^'Prohibited Species List'. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a catfishfamily in the orderSiluriformes. This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 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 carnivorous.^[2] Some species feed primarily on other fish, incapacitating their prey with electric discharges,^[2] but others are generalist bottom foragers, feeding on things like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus.^[4] The largest can grow to about 1.2 m (4 ft) long, but most species are far smaller.^[5][6]

Description[edit]

The Malapteruridae are the only group of catfish with well developed electrogenic organs; however, electroreceptive systems are widespread in catfishes.^[7] 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 has elongate posterior chambers, two chambers in Malapterurus and three in Paradoxoglanis.^[3]

Malapterurus 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, New York, conditioned an M. electricus to discharge on a light signal for a reward of live worms delivered automatically. This is the first conditioning that modified neither glandular nor muscular responses.

The largest can grow to about 1.2 m (4 ft) SL and 20 kg (44 lb).^[2][3][5] Most Malapterurus and all Paradoxoglanis species are much smaller, reaching less than 30 cm (1 ft) long.^[3][5][6]

Relationship to humans[edit]

The electric catfish of the Nile was well known to the ancient Egyptians.^[8] The Egyptians reputedly used the electric shock from them when treating arthritis pain.^[9] They would use only smaller fish, as a large fish may generate an electric shock from 300 to 400 volts. The Egyptians depicted the fish in their mural paintings and elsewhere;^[8] the first known depiction of an electric catfish is on a slate palette of the predynastic Egyptian ruler Narmer about 3100 BC.^[7] It was suitably called 'angry catfish' in ancient Egyptian.

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 raash, el raad, or raash, which means 'thunder'^[8] (literally 'trembler' or 'shaker').

The shock of these catfish is used to stun prey and in defense. It is not known to be fatal to humans,^[2] but large electric catfish can stun an adult person.^[9] In small electric catfish the generated current is far less and only feels like a tingle to humans.^[9]

References[edit]

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. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
2. ^ ^abcdeNg, Heok Hee (2000). 'Malapterurus electricus'. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
3. ^ ^abcdefNelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN0-471-25031-7.
4. ^Moelants, T. (2010). 'Malapterurus microstoma'. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T181680A7703373. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T181680A7703373.en.
5. ^ ^abcFroese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). Species of Malapterurus in FishBase. March 2017 version.
6. ^ ^abFroese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). Species of Paradoxoglanis in FishBase. March 2017 version.
7. ^ ^abHowes, 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.
8. ^ ^abcBoulenger, George Albert (1911). 'Cat-fish' . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 512–515.
9. ^ ^abc'Malapterurus electricus'. ScotsCat. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.

Electric Catfish Info