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Sanaga elephantfish (Campylomormyrus phantasticus) — Mormyridae

Sanaga elephantfish

Campylomormyrus phantasticus
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Sanaga elephantfish (Campylomormyrus phantasticus) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 37 cm.

Length
37 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Sanaga elephantfish is an elephantfish occurring in the Sanaga River in Cameroon, West Africa. It grows to about 37 cm and has a dark, laterally compressed body with a downward-curved, trunk-like snout. Like all elephantfishes it has a weak electric organ with which it navigates in turbid water, detects prey and communicates. The nocturnal bottom-dweller searches for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sanaga elephantfish?

The Sanaga elephantfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Sanaga elephantfish live?

The Sanaga elephantfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Sanaga elephantfish get?

The Sanaga elephantfish grows to a maximum of about 37 cm.

Is the Sanaga elephantfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Sanaga elephantfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Sanaga elephantfish edible?

The Sanaga elephantfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sanaga-olifantsvis verified
English name
Sanaga elephantfish verified
Scientific name
Campylomormyrus phantasticus
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
37.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Black inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Campylomormyrus

More from the family Mormyridae

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