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Monopolar electric discharges of the catfish Parasilurus asotus (Siluridae, Siluriformes)

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Abstract

Electric discharges in the catfish Parasilurus asotus are registered for the first time. The discharges are monopolar pulses of a 50–300 ms duration which corresponds to the frequency characteristics of ampoules of electroreceptors in these catfish. Electric generation is discovered only upon the aggressive-defensive behavior of not less than two species. In solitary fish no discharges were observed neither at prolonged continuous registration (longer than 24 h each) nor at mechanical stimulation. The hypothesis is discussed of a potential mechanism of active (under use of their own electric discharges) monitoring of water conductivity with a relative sensitivity on the order of 0.0002%. This hypothesis may be applied to an explanation of anomalous group behavior of these catfish before earthquakes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), Leninsky pr. 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia

    V. D. Baron & V. M. Olshansky

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  1. V. D. Baron
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  2. V. M. Olshansky
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Correspondence to V. D. Baron.

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Original Russian Text © V.D. Baron, V.M. Olshansky, 2009, published in Voprosy Ikhtiologii, 2009, Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 415–421.

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Baron, V.D., Olshansky, V.M. Monopolar electric discharges of the catfish Parasilurus asotus (Siluridae, Siluriformes). J. Ichthyol. 49, 403–408 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0032945209050063

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