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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Siluriformes (Catfish) > Malapteruridae (Electric catfishes)
Etymology: Malapterurus: Greek, mala = a lot of + Greek, pteron = fin + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335); beninensis: The specific epithet is geographic, in general reference to southern Nigeria, where the types originated (Ref. 44050).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical, preferred ?

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: distributed along the coastal plain of West and Central Africa from the lower Volta River (Ghana) to the Shiloango system (Angola and Congo DR)(Ref. 44050, 57130), and on the island of Fernando Po (Ref. 44050).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34006)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11; Vertebrae: 33 - 38. Diagnosis: body cylindrical; tooth patches narrow; vertically oriented pectoral fins, placed near body mid-depth; 6-7 branched caudal-fin rays; pectoral-fin rays usually 8, rarely 7 or 9; 34-38 vertebrae; eyes relatively small, interorbital space relatively broad; caudal saddle and bar pattern quite distinct in juveniles and young and usually apparent in adults; dorsum and flank nearly always spotted, sometimes extensively; commonly 10-15 gill rakers on first arch (total range 4-22); caudal saddle and anal-fin pigmentation not continuous (Ref. 44050).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Norris, S.M., 2002. A revision of the African electric catfishes, family Malapteruridae (Teleostei, Siluriformes), with erection of a new genus and descriptions of fourteen new species, and an annotated bibliography. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 289:1-155. (Ref. 44050)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki |

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Internet sources

Malapterurus beninensis Murray, 1855