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Victoria stonebasher (Marcusenius victoriae) — Mormyridae

Victoria stonebasher

Marcusenius victoriae
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Victoria stonebasher (Marcusenius victoriae) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 26 cm.

Length
26 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The elephantfish is an elephantfish (Mormyridae) from East Africa. The species has a stocky, dark body with a small, blunt head. In Lake Kyoga it keeps in or near water-lily swamps, and in Lake Victoria in shallow inshore waters over vegetated bottoms. Like other elephantfishes it generates a weak electric field to navigate and find prey. Nocturnally it searches for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Victoria stonebasher?

The Victoria stonebasher has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Victoria stonebasher live?

The Victoria stonebasher lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Victoria stonebasher get?

The Victoria stonebasher grows to a maximum of about 26 cm.

Is the Victoria stonebasher dangerous to humans?

No, the Victoria stonebasher is harmless to humans.

Is the Victoria stonebasher edible?

The Victoria stonebasher is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Victoria-olifantsvis sourced
English name
Victoria stonebasher verified
Scientific name
Marcusenius victoriae
Family
Mormyridae
Other names
Victoria stonebasher verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
26.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

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 Marcusenius

More from the family Mormyridae

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