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Dale Kindler (1) Russell Brian Tate (2) Thomas Kobe (1)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11; Vertebrae: 33 - 38. Diagnosis: body cylindrical; tooth patches narrow; vertically oriented pectoral fins, placed near body mid-depth; 6-7 branched caudal-fin rays; pectoral-fin rays usually 8, rarely 7 or 9; 34-38 vertebrae; eyes relatively small, interorbital space relatively broad; caudal saddle and bar pattern quite distinct in juveniles and young and usually apparent in adults, but often subdued. Dorsum and flank nearly always spotted, sometimes extensively. Commonly 10-15 gill rakers on first arch (total range 4-22). Caudal saddle and anal-fin pigmentation not continuous. Venter often dusky, occasionally lightly spotted. Mostly occurs in lowland habitats. Aquarium Care: found to be highly aggresive towards conspecifics. They fed mainly on mealworms, earthworms, frozen brineshrimp and most prepared tropical fish foods. They were found to be entirely nocturnal (Norris, S.M., 2002). Etymology: The specific epithet beninensis is geographic, in general reference to southern Nigeria, where the types originated.

None

Malapterurus affinis

Malapteruridae

Africa: Coastal plain of West and Central Africa from the lower Volta River (Ghana) to the Shiloango system (Angola and Congo DR), and on the island of Fernando Po. Type Locality: Old Calabar River, Nigeria.

22.5cm (9ins)

23-30°C (73-87°F)

6.5-7.2.

Norris, S.M., 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. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 289:1-155.
Norris, S.M., 2007. Malapteruridae. p. 692-697. In M.L.J. Stiassny, G.G. Teugels and C.D. Hopkins (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa. Volume I. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales 42. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, and Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium. 800 pp.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 08/2019 ).