ExploreFish

Electric Catfish

Malapterurus electricus

The Electric Catfish is a unique fish that can produce electric shocks to protect itself. It has a long, whisker-like barbel on its face that helps it sense its surroundings.

Habitat: Freshwater

Appearance

The Electric Catfish has a stout, scaleless body, often mottled brown or gray with irregular dark spots. It possesses small eyes, a broad head, and six sensory barbels around its mouth, lacking a dorsal fin.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopteriOrderSiluriformesFamilyMalapteruridaeGenusMalapterurus

Electric Catfish

Interesting facts

An Electric Catfish can grow to be over three feet long!

It can create enough electricity to make a person feel a real jolt!

They hunt mostly at night, using their electric sense to find food.

This fish doesn't have any scales, making its skin smooth and slippery.

Special abilities

Electric Catfish can generate powerful electric shocks because of specialized organs, stunning predators or prey.

Electric Catfish has electrosensory cells that help them 'see' in murky water by detecting weak electric fields.

Electric Catfish can emit brief electric pulses that help them locate and stun prey hidden in the dark.

Measurements & details

Length: 30-100 cm
Weight: 0.5-15 kg
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Swim Speed: 8 km/h
Max Depth: 15 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

This skilled hunter loves to eat other fish, stunning them with electricity before swallowing!

Age differences: Younger catfish may eat more insects and crustaceans before switching to mostly fish.

Primary Foods

small fish
aquatic insects
crustaceans

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eats

Elephantfish

Mormyrus longirostris

A common prey fish in African rivers.

eats

Nile Tilapia

Tilapia nilotica

A frequently encountered fish species in its range.

eaten by

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

A large predator found in the same waters.

eaten by

Cape Clawless Otter

Aonyx capensis

Hunts fish, including smaller catfish, in its habitat.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Electrogenic

Uncover amazing creatures that can generate their own electricity, using this power for defense, communication, or even to stun prey. Nature's living batteries!