Mormyrops

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Mormyrops
Mormyrops masuianus (above), Mormyrops lineolatus (below)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osteoglossiformes
Family: Mormyridae
Subfamily: Mormyrinae
Genus: Mormyrops
J. P. Müller, 1843
Synonyms
  • Oxyrhynchus Leach 1818 non de Blainville 1926 non Brandegee

Mormyrops is a genus of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae from freshwater in Africa. They are characterized by an elongate head measuring twice as long as high, and no teeth on the palate or the tongue.[1] The genus includes the largest member of the mormyrid family, the cornish jack (Mormyrops anguilloides) at up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length.[2]

Taxonomy and species[edit]

M. engystoma (top left),
M. microstoma (top right),
M. attenuatus (middle),
M. sirenoides (bottom)
Two long-nosed species, M. zanclirostris (shown) and M. boulengeri, are sometimes placed in their own genus Oxymormyrus instead[3]

According to FishBase, there are currently 21 recognized species in this genus.[2] One of these (marked with one star* in list) is often placed in its own genus Oxymormyrus instead,[4] and yet another (marked with two stars**) has occasionally also been placed in that genus.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Günther, A. (1866). Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. The Trustees.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). Species of Mormyrops in FishBase. May 2017 version.
  3. ^ a b "Mormyridae" (PDF). Deeplyfish- fishes of the world. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. ^ Eschmeyer, W.N.; R. Fricke; R. van der Laan (12 May 2018). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 May 2018.


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