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Sudan stonebasher (Petrocephalus soudanensis) — Mormyridae

Sudan stonebasher

Petrocephalus soudanensis
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Sudan stonebasher (Petrocephalus soudanensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 11 cm.

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

Description

The Sudan stonebasher is an elephantfish (Mormyridae) from West and Central Africa. The species has a stocky, laterally compressed, silvery-grey body with a short, blunt head and a small mouth - unlike the long-snouted elephantfishes. Like all elephantfishes it generates a weak electric field with an organ in the tail base to navigate in turbid water and communicate with conspecifics. It inhabits rivers and floodplains and feeds on insect larvae and small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sudan stonebasher?

The Sudan stonebasher has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Sudan stonebasher live?

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

How big does the Sudan stonebasher get?

The Sudan stonebasher grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Sudan stonebasher dangerous to humans?

No, the Sudan stonebasher is harmless to humans.

Is the Sudan stonebasher edible?

The Sudan stonebasher is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Soedan-olifantsvis sourced
English name
Sudan stonebasher sourced
Scientific name
Petrocephalus soudanensis
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.8 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
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
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Petrocephalus

More from the family Mormyridae

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