Malapterurus electricus
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{{Short description|Species of fish}} |
{{Short description|Species of fish}} |
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{{MOS|date=May 2025}} |
{{Cleanup MOS|date=May 2025}} |
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{{Speciesbox |
{{Speciesbox |
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| image = Malapterurus electricus 1.jpg |
| image = Malapterurus electricus 1.jpg |
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In Africa, it occurs in the Nile and tropical Africa and also in Nasarawa state of Nigeria In Lafia(exclusive of [[Lake Victoria]]), [[Lake Turkana]], [[Lake Chad]] and Senegal basins. |
In Africa, it occurs in the Nile and tropical Africa and also in Nasarawa state of Nigeria In Lafia(exclusive of [[Lake Victoria]]), [[Lake Turkana]], [[Lake Chad]] and Senegal basins. |
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==Biology== |
==Biology== |
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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. |
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. |
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==Life history== |
==Life history== |
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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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}{{cite web|title=The Shocking Medical History of Electric Fish|website= Long Now|date= 2023-04-05|access-date= 2025-01-09|url= https://longnow.org/ideas/the-shocking-medical-history-of-electric-fish/}} |
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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}{{cite web|title=The Shocking Medical History of Electric Fish|website= Long Now|date= 2023-04-05|access-date= 2025-01-09|url= https://longnow.org/ideas/the-shocking-medical-history-of-electric-fish/}} |
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==Economy== |
==Economy== |
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''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. |
''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. |
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The electric organs of ''Malapterurus'' have been used in studies of neuronal metabolism, axonal transport. |
The electric organs of ''Malapterurus'' have been used in studies of neuronal metabolism, axonal transport. |
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==Reproduction== |
==Reproduction== |
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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 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. |
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== Further reading == |
== Further reading == |
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* {{cite journal|author=Norris, S. M. |year=2002|title= A revision of the African electric catfishes, family Malapteruridae |
* {{cite journal|author=Norris, S. M. |year=2002|title= A revision of the African electric catfishes, family Malapteruridae, with erection of a new genus and descriptions of fourteen new species, and an annotated bibliography|journal= Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool.|volume= 289|page=155}} |
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* {{cite journal|author=Sagua, V. |year=1987|title= On a new species of electric catfish from Kainji, Nigeria, with some observations on its biology|journal=J. Fish Biol.|volume= 30|issue=1 |pages= 75–89 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.1987.tb05734.x |bibcode=1987JFBio..30...75S }} |
* {{cite journal|author=Sagua, V. |year=1987|title= On a new species of electric catfish from Kainji, Nigeria, with some observations on its biology|journal=J. Fish Biol.|volume= 30|issue=1 |pages= 75–89 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.1987.tb05734.x |bibcode=1987JFBio..30...75S }} |
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