Aba
Gymnarchus niloticus
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Fish
Gymnarchus niloticus – the aba, aba aba or frankfish – is an electric fish, living at the bottoms of rivers and lakes. It is the only species in the genus Gymnarchus and the family Gymnarchidae, within the order Osteoglossiformes. It is a long slender fish with no pelvic or anal fins, and a tail fin shaped like a rat's tail. It swims using its elongated dorsal fin, allowing it to keep its body straight while it moves. This in turn enables it to produce a steady but weak electric field, which it uses to locate its prey. It is large for a river fish; adults can reach 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length and 19 kg (42 lb) in weight.
Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Osteoglossiformes
- Family
- Gymnarchidae
- Genus
- Gymnarchus