electric catfish

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 tropical Africa belonging to two genera (Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis) of the family Malapteruridae. The best known of this group is M. electricus, a thickset fish with six mouth barbels and a single fin (the adipose fin) on its back, just anterior to the rounded tail fin. It is brownish or grayish, irregularly spotted with black, and attains a length and weight of about 1.2 metres (4 feet) and 23 kilograms (51 pounds).

      M. electricus is capable of generating and controlling the discharge of up to 450 volts of electricity. It uses its power to defend itself and to capture prey. The electric organ is composed of modified muscle tissue and forms a fine, gelatinous layer directly beneath the soft, naked skin of the fish. The electric catfish is hardy and, though pugnacious, is sometimes kept in home aquariums. It was pictured on tombs by the ancient Egyptians.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Electric catfish — Malapterurus electricus Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia …   Wikipedia

  • 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 — 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”