Electric+Catfish

//** Malapurusrus electrus **//



Imagine getting struck by lightning, getting shocked by an electric catfish would be close to the same extreme pain. If an adult electric catfish shocks you, it would be equivocal to 300-350 volts. That is more than 35 times the shock you would get from a car battery. An electric catfish can effectively stun or paralyze its prey. Shocking fisherman that caught them, their nets fell in the water from the shock. The electric catfish is part of the kingdom Animalia, the phylum Chordata, the class Actinopterygii, the order Siluriformes, the family Malapterurida, the genus Malaperusrus, and the species Electricus. Its phylum has 3 main characteristics that separate it from the others. It lives in water, has gills, and it is cold blooded. The electric catfish has all of these qualities from each form of classification. The electric catfish has a cylindrical wide body, and a short snout. It does not have dorsal fins, but has pectoral and pelvis fins. Most of these catfish live in western and central tropical Africa and in the Nile River. Its habitat is roots or rocks in dark freshwater lakes and rivers. This species is not endangered, but destruction of its habitat could eventually threaten it. Catfish Catfish What’s your name? Stinging fishermen That’s my game! I’ll shock you Bad with 300 volts You know that’s A major jolt // Malaperusrus electrus // Is my scientific name And electricity is my game