More info | Plus d'info | Mais info

Language:English | Chinese

FishBase

Family Gymnotidae - Naked-back knifefishes
Order:	Gymnotiformes
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
No. of Genera:	1
No. of Species:	9
Environment:	Fresh:  Yes     Brackish:  No     Marine:  No
Aquarium:	some
First Fossil Record:	middle  Tertiary,   upper  Miocene             Ref.:      Nelson, J.S..1994
Remark:	Naked-back knifefishes are restricted to freshwaters of Central and South America. Body eel-like (compressed or rounded); about 100 vertebrae (31-43 precaudals, Ref. 26457); pelvic girdle and fins absent; dorsal fin absent; anal fin extremely long from near pectorals to near tip of body. Weak electrical charge. Nocturnal fishes, mostly occurring in quiet waters from deep rivers to swamps. May bury themselves in the substrate in strongly flowing waters. Maximum length 60 cm. Includes now the monotypic Electrophoridae. Maximum length 2.3 m.
Etymology:	Greek, gymnotes, -etos = nudity ( Ref. 45335).
Division:	Primary freshwater
Reproductive guild:	nonguarders
Main Ref.:	Nelson, J.S..1994
Coordinator:	Campos-da-Paz, Ricardo
Show species | Nominal species list for Gymnotidae | CAS specimen photos | References

Update | Add new Family	Ref.:				Glossary
		( e.g. 9948)				( e.g. cephalopods)

Comments & Corrections      Sign our Guest Book

Back to Search

Page created by: Eli, 04.10.04, last modified by: Eli, 22.11.04