Gymnarchidae - African knifefish
Description
Distribution: tropical Africa and Nile.
Body elongate. No anal, caudal, and pelvic fins. Parasphenoid and tongue toothless. Branchiostegal rays 4. Dorsal fin rays 183-230.
Locomotion is accomplished by means of wavelike motion along the long dorsal fin.
Vertebrae 114-120. The major vein in the circulatory system is the right neoposterior cardinal vein, with the left one arising from it.
Maximum length 1.5 m, usually below 0.9 m.
With electric organ derived from caudal musculature. Only left gonad developed and functional.
Monogeneric and monospecific.
