Ecology Summary - Electrophorus electricus

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Main Ref.	Planquette, P., P. Keith and P.-Y. Le Bail, 1996
Remarks	Prefer muddy bottoms and calm waters; frequently found in coastal plains, swamps and creeks but is also found inland where a favorable biotope exist. Juveniles feed on invertebrates, adults feed on fish and small mammals (Ref. 12225), first-born larvae prey on other eggs and embryos coming from late spawning batches (Ref. 40645). Feeds on fish, small mammals and invertebrates (Ref. 27188). Shield streams and rivers are permanently normoxic (>3mg/l dissolved oxygen), uniformly low in conductivity (<30 ?Scm?1); and include rocky substrates, rapids, and waterfalls (Ref. 120918). A nocturnal species; captive specimens showed higher low-voltage EOD activity during the night compared to daytime (Ref. 10011). This cycle seems to be free-running (internally controlled) (Ref. 10829). An obligatory air breather (Ref. 10011) and can withstand poorly oxygenated water (Ref. 26457). Used in experimental studies.

Main Ref.

Planquette, P., P. Keith and P.-Y. Le Bail, 1996

Remarks

Prefer muddy bottoms and calm waters; frequently found in coastal plains, swamps and creeks but is also found inland where a favorable biotope exist. Juveniles feed on invertebrates, adults feed on fish and small mammals (Ref. 12225), first-born larvae prey on other eggs and embryos coming from late spawning batches (Ref. 40645). Feeds on fish, small mammals and invertebrates (Ref. 27188). Shield streams and rivers are permanently normoxic (>3mg/l dissolved oxygen), uniformly low in conductivity (<30 ?Scm?1); and include rocky substrates, rapids, and waterfalls (Ref. 120918). A nocturnal species; captive specimens showed higher low-voltage EOD activity during the night compared to daytime (Ref. 10011). This cycle seems to be free-running (internally controlled) (Ref. 10829). An obligatory air breather (Ref. 10011) and can withstand poorly oxygenated water (Ref. 26457). Used in experimental studies.

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Electrophorus electricus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Soft Bottom
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Planquette, P., P. Keith and P.-Y. Le Bail, 1996
Feeding habit	hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.	Mérona, B. de and J. Rankin-de-Mérona, 2004

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	3.89	0.52			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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