Description
– Malapteruridae are the only catfish group with electrogenic organs.
– The electrogenic organ is derived from anterior body musculature and lines the body cavity.
– Electric catfish lack dorsal fins or fin spines.
– They have three pairs of barbels, with the nasal pair absent.
– The swim bladder has elongate posterior chambers.
Relationship to humans
– The electric catfish was known to ancient Egyptians and used for treating arthritis pain.
– The Egyptians depicted the fish in their mural paintings.
– The fish was known as ‘el raad’ or thunder due to its electric properties.
– The electric shock of catfish can stun prey and humans.
– Large electric catfish can generate shocks from 300 to 400 volts.
Size and Weight
– The largest electric catfish can grow up to 1.2 meters (3 ft) in length and weigh 20 kg (44 lb).
– Most Malapterurus species and all Paradoxoglanis species are smaller, reaching less than 30 cm (1 ft) in length.
Conditioning and Behavior
– Electric catfish can be conditioned to discharge on a light signal for a reward.
– Dr. Frank J. Mandriota conditioned an M. electricus to discharge on a light signal for live worms.
– This was the first conditioning that modified neither glandular nor muscular responses.
– Electric catfish use their electric shock for defense and stunning prey.
– In small electric catfish, the generated current feels like a tingle to humans.
References
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Malapterurus electricus.
– Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil, by Carl J. Ferraris Jr.
– Malapterurus electricus information on Animal Diversity Web.
– Fishes of the World by Joseph S. Nelson.
– IUCN Red List of Threatened Species entry for Malapterurus microstoma. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_catfish
Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes). This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. Several species of this family have the ability to generate electricity, delivering a shock of up to 350 volts from its electric organ. Electric catfish are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River. Electric catfish are usually nocturnal and carnivorous. Some species feed primarily on other fish, incapacitating their prey with electric discharges, but others are generalist bottom foragers, feeding on things like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus. The largest can grow to about 1.2 meters (3 ft) long, but most species are far smaller.
| Electric catfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Malapterurus electricus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Superfamily: | Siluroidea |
| Family: | Malapteruridae Bleeker, 1858 |
| Genera | |
