Malapterurus electricus (electric catfish)

The largest individuals reach about 1 meter in length and weigh about 20 kg. The body is long, stout, with a slightly flat dorsal margin and laterally compressed posteriorly. Head small, muzzle rounded. The mouth is terminal, and the lower jaw is sometimes slightly protruding. Jaw teeth are arranged in broad bands of fine-pointed velar teeth, palatal teeth are absent. Eyes small, covered with dermatophores. Nostrils remote. Three pairs of whiskers: one maxillary whisker, reaching up to the gill pores; two mandibular whiskers, located below the corners of the mouth, with the outer pair being the longest and reaching past the pectoral fin bases. Gill pores short, located on the side of the head. Body not scaly. Dorsal fin absent. Lipodorsal fin posterior, close to caudal fin, pectoral fin lateral, without sclerotized spines. Caudal fin rounded. Body color gray, brown, or blue-gray, ventral side white, often with black spots or patches. Even fins red, odd fins with orange or red-green.

Also known as the electric catfish, it is a widely distributed freshwater catfish in tropical Africa, a member of the Malapteruridae family, with the scientific name Malapterurus electricus.The body is short and stout, with six mouth whiskers, and only a single adipose fin on the back, immediately before the rounded caudal fin. The body is light brown or light gray with irregular black spots. The body reaches about 1.22 meters (4 feet) in length and weighs about 23 kilograms (51 pounds). The electric catfish generates and controls electrical discharges of up to 450 volts, which are used for self-defense and also to capture prey. The generating organ consists of mutated muscle tissue that forms a thin gelatinous layer under the exposed soft skin of the fish. The electric catfish is hardy, though aggressive, and is sometimes used as a domesticated ornamental fish. Ancient Egyptians used to paint electric catfish on tombs.