Gymnotus

Gymnotus
Gymnotus sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gymnotiformes
Family: Gymnotidae
Genus: Gymnotus
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Gymnotus carapo
Linnaeus, 1758

Gymnotus is a genus of Neotropical freshwater fish in the family Gymnotidae found widely in South America, Central America and southern Mexico (36th parallel south to 18th parallel north).[1] The greatest species richness is found in the Amazon basin.[2] They are sometimes referred to by the English name banded knifefish,[1] although this typically is reserved for the most widespread species, G. carapo.[3][4] Overall Gymnotus is the most widespread genus in the order Gymnotiformes.[5]

Although not commonly eaten by humans, some members of this genus are used locally as fishing bait,[6] and occasionally kept in aquariums.[7]

  1. ^ a b Craig, J.M.; V. Correa-Roldán; H. Ortega; W.G.R. Crampton; J.S. Albert (2018). "Revision of Gymnotus (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) from the Upper Madeira Basin of Bolivia and Peru, with descriptions of two new species". Zootaxa. 4413 (1): 111–132. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4413.1.3. PMID 29690122.
  2. ^ Albert, J.S.; R.R. Miller (1995). "Gymnotus maculosus, a new species of electric fish (Chordata: Teleostei: Gymnotoidei) from Middle America, with a key to species of Gymnotus". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 108 (4): 662–678.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Gymnotus". FishBase. May 2018 version.
  4. ^ Craig, J.M.; W.G.R. Crampton; J.S. Albert (2017). "Revision of the polytypic electric fish Gymnotus carapo (Gymnotiformes, Teleostei), with descriptions of seven subspecies". Zootaxa. 4318 (3): 401–438. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4318.3.1.
  5. ^ Nelson, J.S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
  6. ^ Medeiros, M. (translator) (12 September 2017). "Research identifies fish species used as live bait in Pantanal". Embrapa. Retrieved 11 May 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "Gymnotus carapo". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 11 May 2018.