Gnathonemus petersii

E876520

Gnathonemus petersii, commonly known as the elephantnose fish, is a freshwater African fish species notable for its elongated snout and use of weak electric fields for navigation and communication.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Xenomystus nigri 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fish species
weakly electric fish
activityPattern nocturnal
behavior shy
territorial toward conspecifics
bodyShape elongated body
class Actinopterygii
coloration dark brown to black body
pale vertical bands
commonName elephant nose fish
elephantnose fish
describedBy Albert Günther NERFINISHED
diet insect larvae
invertebrates
worms
distinctiveFeature elongated snout
trunk-like chin appendage
electricDischargeType wave-type electric organ discharge
electricOrganType weak electric organ
family Mormyridae NERFINISHED
genus Gnathonemus NERFINISHED
geographicDistribution Central Africa NERFINISHED
West Africa NERFINISHED
habitat floodplains
freshwater
slow-moving rivers
hasOrgan electric organ in caudal peduncle
enlarged cerebellum-like brain region
keptAs aquarium fish
kingdom Animalia
maximumLength about 35 cm
namedAfter Wilhelm Peters NERFINISHED
nativeTo Africa
Niger River basin NERFINISHED
Ogooué River basin NERFINISHED
order Osteoglossiformes NERFINISHED
phylum Chordata
reproduction egg-laying
sensorySystem electroreception
lateral line system
taxonRank species
typicalLength 20–25 cm
usesElectricFieldsFor communication
navigation
waterTypePreference slightly acidic water
soft water
yearDescribed 1862

Referenced by (2)

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

Mormyridae contains Gnathonemus petersii
Notopteridae hasSpecies Gnathonemus petersii
this entity surface form: Xenomystus nigri