Gymnotiformes

E858411

Gymnotiformes is an order of South and Central American electric fishes, commonly known as knifefishes, characterized by elongated bodies and the ability to generate electric fields for navigation and communication.

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Statements (67)

Predicate Object
instanceOf order of fishes
taxon
activityPattern primarily nocturnal
class Actinopterygii
commonName South American knifefishes
knifefishes
diet insect larvae
invertebrates
small fishes
electricOrganDischargeType pulse-type in some species
wave-type in some species
electricOrganLocation tail region
electrogenesisUsedFor electrocommunication
electrolocation
navigation
orientation in turbid waters
prey detection
foundIn Amazon Basin NERFINISHED
Orinoco Basin NERFINISHED
Paraná–Paraguay Basin NERFINISHED
coastal drainages of northern South America
some Central American river systems
habitat floodplains
freshwater
oxbow lakes
rivers
streams
swamps
hasCharacteristic anal fin extremely long
caudal fin reduced or absent
continuous undulatory swimming with anal fin
dorsal fin absent
electric fishes
electric organ present
elongated body
laterally compressed body in many species
mouth often superior or terminal
no adipose fin
no pelvic fins
no true dorsal fin
nocturnal activity in many species
scales absent or very reduced
some species strongly electric
swimbladder reduced
weakly electric in most species
includesFamily Apteronotidae NERFINISHED
Eigenmanniidae NERFINISHED
Gymnotidae NERFINISHED
Hypopomidae NERFINISHED
Rhamphichthyidae NERFINISHED
Sternopygidae NERFINISHED
infraclass Teleostei NERFINISHED
kingdom Animalia
locomotion backward and forward swimming using anal fin undulations
nativeRange Central America NERFINISHED
South America NERFINISHED
notableSpecies Apteronotus albifrons NERFINISHED
Electrophorus electricus NERFINISHED
Gymnotus carapo NERFINISHED
phylum Chordata
reproduction egg-laying
scientificStudyField electrophysiology
neuroethology
sensory biology
sensoryAdaptation specialized electroreceptors
well-developed lateral line system
superorder Ostariophysi NERFINISHED

Referenced by (1)

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

Ostariophysi includes Gymnotiformes