knifefish

knifefish

▪ suborder Gymnotoidei
      any of certain New World fishes of the suborder Gymnotoidei, order Gymnotiformes. Knifefishes comprise, at most, about 50 species of Central and South American fishes found in quiet lakes and lagoons. They are placed in three families: Gymnotidae (often called gymnotid “eels”); Apteronotidae; and Rhamphichthyidae. Some authorities, however, group all, together with the related electric eel (q.v.), in a single family, Gymnotidae, while others recognize more than three families.

      Knifefishes are elongated, sideways-flattened, and blade-shaped. They swim by rippling movements of a long anal fin that extends almost the entire length of the underside. They can swim both forward and backward and can also produce low-voltage electrical discharges, which they use in locating nearby objects. These fishes are hardy, nocturnal, and either carnivorous or herbivorous. Maximum length is about 90 cm (3 feet). Smaller species, such as the yellow-striped, 30-centimetre Gymnotus carapo, are sometimes kept in home aquariums.

      The name knifefish is also sometimes given to African and Asian fishes of the family Notopteridae (see notopterid).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Knifefish — may refer to several knife shaped fishes: The Neotropical or weakly electric knifefishes, order Gymnotiformes, containing five families: Family Gymnotidae (banded knifefishes and electric eel) Family Rhamphichthyidae (sand knifefishes) Family… …   Wikipedia

  • knifefish — afrikinė peiliažuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Notopterus afer angl. African seetul; knifefish rus. африканский спинопёр ryšiai: platesnis terminas – šerianugarės peiliažuvės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • knifefish — juodoji peiliažuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Xenomystus nigri angl. knifefish rus. ложный спинопёр ryšiai: platesnis terminas – plikanugarės peiliažuvės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Ghost knifefish — Taxobox name = Ghost knifefishes image width = 250px image caption = Black ghost knifefish, Apteronotus albifrons regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Gymnotiformes subordo = Sternopygoidei superfamilia =… …   Wikipedia

  • Clown knifefish — Taxobox name = Clown knifefish image caption = regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Osteoglossiformes familia = Notopteridae genus = Chitala species = C. ornata binomial = Chitala ornata binomial authority = Gray,… …   Wikipedia

  • Banded knifefish — Taxobox name = Banded knifefish regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Gymnotiformes subordo = Gymnotoidei familia = Gymnotidae genus = Gymnotus species = G. carapo binomial = Gymnotus carapo binomial authority = L.,… …   Wikipedia

  • Black ghost knifefish — Taxobox name = Black ghost knifefish regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Gymnotiformes familia = Apteronotidae genus = Apteronotus species = A. albifrons binomial = Apteronotus albifrons binomial authority =… …   Wikipedia

  • Blue knifefish — Taxobox name = Blue knifefish image caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Perciformes familia = Kyphosidae genus = Labracoglossa species = L. nitida binomial = Labracoglossa nitida …   Wikipedia

  • Grey knifefish — Taxobox name = Grey knifefish image caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Perciformes familia = Kyphosidae genus = Bathystethus species = B. cultratus binomial = Bathystethus… …   Wikipedia

  • Naked-back knifefish — Naked back knifefishes Electric eel, Electrophorus electricus Scientific classification Kingdom: A …   Wikipedia

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