Malapteruridae - Electric catfishes

Classification

Family: Malapteruridae - Electric catfishes

Description

Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes). This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species.

Several species of this family have the ability to generate electricity, delivering a shock of up to 350 volts from its electric organ.

Electric catfishes are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River.

Electric catfish are usually nocturnal and carnivorous. Some species feed primarily on other fish, incapacitating their prey with electric discharges, but others are generalist bottom foragers, feeding on things like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus.

The largest can grow to about 1.2 meters (3 ft) long, but most species are far smaller.

Genera