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Long-snouted elephantfish (Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus) — Mormyridae

Long-snouted elephantfish

Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Long-snouted elephantfish (Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus is an African elephantfish of the family Mormyridae from the Congo basin. The species owes its name to the strongly elongate, downward-curved snout, with which it probes mud and crevices for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The body is elongate and dark-coloured. Like other mormyrids the fish has a weak electric organ; electroreceptors cover almost the entire head and the dorsal and ventral surfaces, except the flanks and the caudal peduncle where the electric organ lies. With these it orients itself and communicates in turbid water. The species reaches about 22 cm.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Long-snouted elephantfish?

The Long-snouted elephantfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Long-snouted elephantfish live?

The Long-snouted elephantfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Long-snouted elephantfish get?

The Long-snouted elephantfish grows to a maximum of about 22 cm.

Is the Long-snouted elephantfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Long-snouted elephantfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Langsnuit-olifantsvis sourced
English name
Long-snouted elephantfish sourced
Scientific name
Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus
Family
Mormyridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Campylomormyrus

More from the family Mormyridae

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