Abstract
The African catfishClarias is generally considered to possess electroreceptors but not electric organs. It is reported here that at least one species of the genus,C. gariepinus, can produce weak monophasic discharges during aggressive interactions with conspecifics. These irregular pulse discharges are substantially longer than the electric organ discharges (EODs) of all other pulse-generating freshwater electric fishes. It is also shown that the optimal sensitivity ofClarias' ampullary receptors just corresponds to the modal pulse duration. TheClarias catfish, with its very specific EOD, may be of special interest in the evolution of the electrogenic system in the siluriforms, comprising many electroreceptive but nonelectrogenic catfish species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennett, M. V. L., in: Fish Physiology, vol. 5, p. 347. Eds W. S. Hoar and D. J. Randall, Academic Press, New York 1971.
Bass, A. H., in: Electroreception, p. 13. Eds T. H. Bullock and W. Heiligenberg Wiley, New York 1986.
Heiligenberg, W., in: Studies of Brain Function, vol. 1, p. 1. Ed. V. Braitenberg. Springer-Verlag, New York 1977.
Kalmijn, A. J., in: Handbook of Sensory Physiology, vol. III/3, p. 147. Ed. A. Fessard. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1974.
Hagedorn, M., Womble, M., and Finger, T. E., Brain Behav. Evol.35 (1990) 268.
Lissmann, H. W., and Machin, K. E., Nature199 (1963) 88.
Peters, R. C., and Buwalda, R. J. A., J. comp. Physiol.79 (1972) 29.
Finger, T. E., in: Electroreception, p. 287. Eds T. H. Bullock and W. Heiligenberg. Wiley, New York 1986.
Orlov, A. A., Baron, V. D., and Olshansky, V. M., Dokl. Akad. Nauk.332 (1993) 110. (In Russian).
Teugels, G. G., Annls Mus. r. Afr. cent., Sér. 8vo, Sci. Zool.247 (1986) 1.
Hopkins, C. D., Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.7 (1980) 1.
Roth, A., J. comp. Physiol.79 (1972) 13.
Peters, R. C., and Bretschneider, F., Adv. Physiol. Sci.31 (1981) 13.
Bratton, B., and Ayres, J., Envir. Biol. Fish.20 (1987) 241.
Fessard, A., in: Les organes electriques. Traite de zoologie, vol. 13/2, p. 1143. Ed. P.-P. Grasse. Libraires de l'Académie de Médecine, Paris 1958.
Baron, V. D., and Mikhailenko, N. A., Dokl. biol. Sci.229 (1976) 290.
Bennett, M. V. L., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.94 (1961) 458.
Grundfest, H., Adv. comp. Physiol. Biochem.2 (1966) 1.
Grundfest, H., in: Sharks, Skates, and Rays, p. 399. Eds. P. W. Gilbert, R. F. Mathewson and D. P. Rall. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Maryland 1967.
Lissmann, H. W., J. expl Biol35 (1958) 156.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baron, V.D., Orlov, A.A. & Golubtsov, A.S. AfricanClarias catfish elicits long-lasting weak electric pulses. Experientia 50, 644–647 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952864
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952864