Gymnarchus niloticus

E879447

Gymnarchus niloticus, commonly known as the African knifefish, is a large, nocturnal, weakly electric fish native to the Nile and other African freshwater systems.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf species of fish
weakly electric fish
activityPattern nocturnal
bodyColor generally dark or olive
bodyShape elongated
knife-like
class Actinopterygii
commonName Aba
African knifefish NERFINISHED
diet carnivorous
distributionContinent Africa NERFINISHED
ecologicalRole predator in freshwater ecosystems
electricOrganDischargeType wave-type
electricOrganLocation tail region
electroreceptorType tuberous electroreceptors
family Gymnarchidae NERFINISHED
finPosition dorsal fin extends along most of body length
foundIn freshwater
genus Gymnarchus NERFINISHED
habitat floodplains
large rivers
swamps
hasAnalFin no anal fin
hasCaudalFin no distinct caudal fin
hasDorsalFin long continuous dorsal fin
kingdom Animalia
locomotion backward and forward swimming with similar ease
maximumLength about 1.5 m
about 1.6 m
maximumWeight over 15 kg
nativeTo Central African freshwater systems
Chad Basin NERFINISHED
Niger Basin NERFINISHED
Nile River basin NERFINISHED
West African freshwater systems
order Osteoglossiformes NERFINISHED
parentalCare present
phylum Chordata
preysOn fish
invertebrates
reproduction oviparous
sensoryAdaptation enhanced electrosensory system
reduced reliance on vision
swimmingMode undulation of dorsal fin
taxonRank species
uses electrocommunication
electrolocation

Referenced by (2)

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

Gymnarchidae containsTaxon Gymnarchus niloticus
Gymnarchidae hasSpecies Gymnarchus niloticus