| Banded knifefish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gymnotiformes |
| Suborder: | Gymnotoidei |
| Family: | Gymnotidae |
| Genus: | Gymnotus |
| Species: | G. carapo |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus, 1758 |
|
The Banded knifefish (Gymnotus carapo) is a knifefish native to South America.
Contents |
The banded knifefish is gray fish with a band of large black spots outlined with yellow on either side. they can get up to 60 cm (about 24 in.) long.
The banded knifefish lives in lakes and streams in virtually all of South America except for Chile. They also are native to Trinidad.
Banded knifefish have the capability of generating weak electric charges and measuring the disturbance in the field of electricity created. This system is used for navigation by the fish.
Banded knifefish eat benthos, such as plants, arthropods, detritus, mollusks, worms and small fish.[1]