# 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. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Freshwater - **Also known as:** Electric Fish, Malapterurus ![Electric Catfish](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424760/objects/6065.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopteri - **Order:** Siluriformes - **Family:** Malapteruridae - **Genus:** Malapterurus ## 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 - **Shocking Defense:** Electric Catfish can generate powerful electric shocks because of specialized organs, stunning predators or prey. - **Electro-Navigation:** Electric Catfish has electrosensory cells that help them 'see' in murky water by detecting weak electric fields. - **Ambush Stun:** 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 - **Maximum 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Electrogenic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/electrogenic): This trait describes organisms capable of generating electric fields or electric shocks. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Avoid touching Electric Catfish in the wild as their electric shocks can be dangerous. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Electric Catfish? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Electric Catfish? 30-100 cm ### How much does Electric Catfish weigh? 0.5-15 kg ### How long does Electric Catfish live? 10-15 years ### What does Electric Catfish eat? This skilled hunter loves to eat other fish, stunning them with electricity before swallowing! ### How fast can Electric Catfish swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Electric Catfish usually found? Freshwater ### How does Electric Catfish hunt? Ambush ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Electric Catfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/electric-catfish)