Home · Mormyridae · Largeeye elephantfish
Largeeye elephantfish (Petrocephalus grandoculis) — Mormyridae

Largeeye elephantfish

Petrocephalus grandoculis
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Largeeye elephantfish (Petrocephalus grandoculis) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
9.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Freshwater of Central and southern Africa.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Largeeye elephantfish?

Get the app

Description

The largeeye elephantfish is an African freshwater fish of the elephantfish family (Mormyridae). The species grows to about 9.5 cm and has a streamlined, laterally compressed and silvery-grey body with conspicuously large eyes. Like other elephantfishes it has a weak electric organ with which it senses its surroundings and communicates with conspecifics; this is especially useful in turbid water and darkness. It is mainly nocturnal and searches the bottom for small invertebrates. The species has no commercial value and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Largeeye elephantfish?

The Largeeye elephantfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Weak electric organ and strikingly large eyes.

Where does the Largeeye elephantfish live?

The Largeeye elephantfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Freshwater of Central and southern Africa.

How big does the Largeeye elephantfish get?

The Largeeye elephantfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Largeeye elephantfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Largeeye elephantfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Largeeye elephantfish edible?

The Largeeye elephantfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Largeeye elephantfish (Petrocephalus grandoculis) — Mormyridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Michael Verdirame, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Largeeye elephantfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Largeeye elephantfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Largeeye elephantfish sourced
Scientific name
Petrocephalus grandoculis
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped 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 inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Freshwater of Central and southern Africa. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small bottom-dwelling invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Reproduction coincides with the rainy season and floods. inferred
Special features
Weak electric organ and strikingly large eyes. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Petrocephalus

More from the family Mormyridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Largeeye elephantfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Largeeye elephantfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Largeeye elephantfish? Get the app