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Mormyrids (Petrocephalus bovei) — Mormyridae

Mormyrids

Petrocephalus bovei
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Mormyrids (Petrocephalus bovei) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 12 cm.

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

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Description

Petrocephalus bovei is a small African elephantfish (Mormyridae) from fresh water of West and Central Africa. The species has a stocky, silvery-grey body with a blunt, rounded head and reaches about 11 cm. Like other mormyrids it produces weak electric discharges; in this species the temporal patterns of those discharges play a role in species recognition. Research indicates the fish relies more on vision than on smell. It feeds on small invertebrates and insect larvae taken from the bottom. The species is a fractional spawner and has no fishery value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mormyrids?

The Mormyrids has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Weak electric organ; discharge patterns serve for species recognition.

Where does the Mormyrids live?

The Mormyrids lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Freshwater of West and Central Africa.

How big does the Mormyrids get?

The Mormyrids grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Mormyrids dangerous to humans?

No, the Mormyrids 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 Mormyrids edible?

The Mormyrids is not usually eaten.

More photos

Mormyrids (Petrocephalus bovei) — Mormyridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Dale Kindler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Mormyrids (Petrocephalus bovei) — Mormyridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — George Albert Boulenger (Public domain)
Mormyrids (Petrocephalus bovei) — Mormyridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) david_taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Mormyrids (Petrocephalus bovei) — Mormyridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) selemela_modiba, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Mormyrids verified
Scientific name
Petrocephalus bovei
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.5 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 West and Central Africa. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates and insect larvae sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
2.5 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Weak electric organ; discharge patterns serve for species recognition. 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

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Fin

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