Home · Mormyridae · Donny's elephantfish
Donny's elephantfish (Genyomyrus donnyi) — Mormyridae

Donny's elephantfish

Genyomyrus donnyi
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Donny's elephantfish (Genyomyrus donnyi) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Genyomyrus donnyi is an African elephantfish of the family Mormyridae, widespread in the Congo basin, from the lower Congo basin to the Lualaba, in Cameroon, the Central African Republic and both Congos. It grows to 45 centimetres and is a bottom dweller of tropical fresh water. Like all elephantfishes it generates weak electric fields to navigate turbid water, locate prey and communicate. It probably feeds on small bottom invertebrates. The fish has a single continuous spineless dorsal fin and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Donny's elephantfish?

The Donny's elephantfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Donny's elephantfish live?

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

How big does the Donny's elephantfish get?

The Donny's elephantfish grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Donny's elephantfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Donny's elephantfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Donny's elephantfish edible?

The Donny's elephantfish is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Donny's olifantsvis inferred
English name
Donny's elephantfish sourced
Scientific name
Genyomyrus donnyi
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous verified
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten inferred
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

More from the family Mormyridae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →