Electric Catfish (Congo Gorilla Forest (session 2)) · iNaturalist

Location in Zoo
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Congo Gorilla Forest Bronx Zoo

Natural Habitat
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The electric catfish is mainly found in freshwater habitats such as lakes and rivers especially within rocks or roots in dark areas. They also tend to be attracted to shallow waters especially when sluggish/ standing.

Diet
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These species are considered to be carnivorous with their opportunistic hunting tactics.Their successful hunting is in due to their capability of stunning it’s prey with the aid of its paralyzing electrical organ discharge. They also usually hunt during the night by electrocuting their prey which usually consists of small fish/ organisms up to half their body size.

Adaptations
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Physical: This catfish has a coloration of a grayish brown with black spots on his body to help him blend in with his surrounding environment.

Behavioral:

Physiological: They can generate electric shocks to stun their prey and deter from predators. This is possible because of a modified muscle around its body which is capable of discharging approximately 400 volts.

They also posses a unique set of bones known as Weberian apparatus which connects the gas bladder and inner ear. This adaptation allows them to have enhanced hearing.

Conservation Status/ Threats
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At this time the IUCN has listed this animal as “least concerned” considering they have no known widespread threats. The only threats the IUCN foresees is pollution in their freshwater habitats and/or overfishing in Eastern Africa.

Taxonomy/ Living relatives
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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Siluriformes

Family: Malapteruridae

Living Relatives: This animal’s connection to others in the Malapteruridae family is disputed. Some say this species is most closely related to the Old World catfish family Siluridae but others disagree with this proposal.

Sources
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http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/182850/0

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Malapterurus_electricus/

Sources and Credits

1. (c) congobronxzoo, all rights reserved
2. (c) congobronxzoo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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