| Gymnarchus niloticus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Osteoglossiformes |
| Family: | Gymnarchidae Bleeker, 1859 |
| Genus: | Gymnarchus Cuvier, 1829 |
| Species: | G. niloticus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnarchus niloticus Cuvier, 1829
| |
| |
| Aba IUCN range
Extant (resident)
Presence Uncertain & Introduced
| |
The African knifefish, Gymnarchus niloticus – also called the aba aba – is an electric fish, and the only species in the genus Gymnarchus and the family Gymnarchidae within the order Osteoglossiformes.[1][2]
In 1950, Hans Lissmann noticed that the fish could swim equally well forwards or backwards, clearly relying on a sense other than vision. He demonstrated that it could locate prey by electroreception, making it the first fish known to have this ability.
- ^ a b Lalèyè, P.; Azeroual, A.; Entsua-Mensah, M.; et al. (2020). "Gymnarchus niloticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T181688A134949091. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T181688A134949091.en.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Gymnarchus niloticus". FishBase.