We know of more than 500 species of animals that can generate electric shocks. Most of these are aquatic; for example, eel, electric skate, catfish … and use electricity mainly for navigation and foraging. The electric organ is a muscular organ (more precisely, it comes from muscles) and is characteristic of all electric fish. With the help of the organ, the fish create an electric field, which they use for navigation, communication and for finding prey, as well as for incapacitating prey or defending themselves against predators. The electric organ is made up of cells called electrocytes, which are essentially muscle cells.

This time we will describe a rather unexplored and interesting freshwater elephant fish, which lives only in large and deep rivers of Africa. It was only in 1953 that it was discovered that the elephant fish has a kind of “alternating current generator” near its tail. The “batteries” of this “generator” have a voltage of about six volts. When they are discharged, they create an electromagnetic field around the fish. A characteristic feature of these fish is the “mouth”, or rather the lower lip in the shape of a proboscis, which makes it look like an elephant.

This organ is equipped with numerous nerve endings and can produce weak electrical impulses, which allows the fish to navigate through murky and dark water, looking for food, a partner and recognizing danger. The body color is dark brown, almost black. Under certain lighting conditions, it can sparkle with purple hues. The dorsal and anal fins are connected on both sides by two light, rounded arches.

The elephant fish is widespread in central and western Africa. It prefers areas of rivers overgrown with dense vegetation with a small current and turbid, dark water. Gnathonemus Petersii or Nile elephant fish or ubangi (lat.Gnathonemus petersii) is a species of freshwater fish of the family Mormidae. The specific name is given in honor of the German zoologist Wilhelm Peters (1815-1883).

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Summarized by AskNature.org