Malapteruridae

E230175

Malapteruridae is a family of electric catfishes known for their ability to generate strong electric discharges, native to freshwater habitats in Africa.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Malapteruridae canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fish family
ray-finned fish family
taxon
bodyCovering scaleless skin
class Actinopterygii
commonName electric catfishes
containsGenus Malapterurus
Paradoxoglanis
describedBy Johann Jakob Heckel
diet carnivorous
piscivorous
distribution subtropical Africa
tropical Africa
ecologicalRole predator in African freshwater ecosystems
electricDischargeFunction defense
predation
electricOrganLocation caudal region
trunk
foundInBasin Congo River
surface form: Congo River basin

Niger River
surface form: Niger River basin

Nile Basin
surface form: Nile River basin
foundInCountry Cameroon
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Egypt
Nigeria
habitat freshwater lakes
freshwater rivers
swamps
hasCharacteristic capable of generating strong electric discharges
electrogenic
freshwater
robust cylindrical body
three pairs of barbels
hasCommonSpecies Malapterurus electricus
hasNervousSystemAdaptation specialized electroreceptors
kingdom Animalia
maximumElectricDischarge up to several hundred volts
nativeTo Africa
order Siluriformes
phylum Chordata
relatedTo other catfishes in Siluriformes
reproduction oviparous
taxonRank family
typeGenus Malapterurus
usedByHumansFor aquarium trade
food
usesElectricOrganFor deterring predators
stunning prey

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Siluriformes contains Malapteruridae