/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/1.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(1) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/2.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(2) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/3.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(3) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/4.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(4) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/5.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(5) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/6.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(6) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/7.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(7) Dorsal view - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/microstoma/8.jpg "Malapterurus microstoma(8) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Malapterurus microstoma Poll & Gosse, 1969 |
| Common Name(s) | Dwarf Electric Catfish |
| Type Locality | Yangambi, Congo R., Zaire. |
| Pronunciation | mah lah TERR oo russ - my kro stow ma |
| Etymology | Malapterurus: From the Greek malakos, meaning soft, pteron, meaning fin and oura, meaning tail; presumably in reference to the adipose fin, which appears all the more prominent in the absence of the rayed dorsal fin. From the Greek mikros, meaning small and stoma, meaning mouth (or opening); in reference to the small mouth of this species. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 560mm (22") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Easily distinguished by its narrow snout and tooth patches, and horizontally based pectoral fins placed low on the body. |
| General Remarks | Gut contents contained large amounts of detritus along with animal remains, suggesting that this species is a generalist bottom forager rather than a strict piscivore. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Congo River drainage, west central Africa. African Waters  , Congo (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Temperature | 23.0-30.0°C or 73.4-86°F (Show others within this range) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Feeds readily on all manner of frozen and live food. Will also take meaty food such as frozen meat but will only take prepared foods if nothing else is available. |
| Furniture | A dimly lit tank with a suitably sized retreat - appears to prefer stone over wood. |
| Compatibility | Best kept alone, given its electrogenic ability. |
| Breeding | Possibly spawns in burrows along river banks and may exhibit brood care. Females are apparently mot sexually mature until 40-50 cm SL. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Bull. Inst. R. Sci. Nat. Belg.v. 45 (no. 38) - pp8 - Pls. 1, 2 (fig. b), 3 (fig. b) Norris, SM, 2002. A revision of the African electric catfishes, Family Malapteruridae (Teleostei, Siluriformes), with erection of a new genus and descriptions of fourteen new species, and an annotated bibliography. Annales. Sciences Zoologiques. Musée Royale de l'Afrique Centrale 289: 1-155. |
| Registered Keepers | (1) CFC, (2) arapaima, (3) amiidae. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 5816 hits. |
| Last Update | 2003 Oct 03 00:00 (species record created: 2003 Oct 03 00:00) |
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