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Walker's elephantfish (Stomatorhinus walkeri) — Mormyridae

Walker's elephantfish

Stomatorhinus walkeri
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Walker's elephantfish (Stomatorhinus walkeri) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 9 cm.

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

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Description

Walker's elephantfish is a small African weakly electric fish of the family Mormyridae from West and Central Africa. The species has a stocky, dark body with a short, blunt head. Like all elephantfishes it generates a weak electric field with an organ in the tail base to navigate in turbid water, locate prey and communicate with conspecifics. It inhabits rivers and streams, where it searches the bottom with its sensitive snout for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Walker's elephantfish?

The Walker's elephantfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Weakly electric elephantfish of West and Central African rivers.

Where does the Walker's elephantfish live?

The Walker's elephantfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. West and Central Africa; rivers and streams.

How big does the Walker's elephantfish get?

The Walker's elephantfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Walker's elephantfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Walker's elephantfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Walker's elephantfish edible?

The Walker's elephantfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Walker's elephantfish sourced
Scientific name
Stomatorhinus walkeri
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 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
Natural range
West and Central Africa; rivers and streams. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insect larvae and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Weakly electric elephantfish of West and Central African rivers. 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
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Stomatorhinus

More from the family Mormyridae

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