Scientific Name
Malapterurus electricus

Common Name
Electric catfish

Biology
Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 38 - 41. Diagnosis: tooth patches narrow; pectoral fin placed near body mid-depth; 7-8 branched caudal fin rays; adults and young marked with large spots and blotches, some up to 4-5 times an eye diameter; caudal fin usually well-spotted in adults; caudal saddle and bar pattern poorly developed in all ages (Ref. 44050).

Classification

Classified By

Gmelin, 1789

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Electric catfishes (Malapteruridae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: occurs in much of the Nile system (exclusive of Lake Victoria), the Lake Turkana, Lake Chad and Senegal basins, throughout the Niger system, and in smaller southward flowing basins in west Africa (rivers Bandama through Volta) (Ref. 44050).

Range

35°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

23 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 20 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

2.93 s.e. 0.38 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

122 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (74 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tmax=10; Fec

Threat To Humans

Other (Ref. 4967)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)