Black ghost knifefish
(Apteronotus albifrons)
General data
Scientific names:
Black ghost knifefish
Local names:
Black ghost
Habitat:
Freshwater
Climate:
Tropical
Native:
South America
The black ghost knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons) is a tropical fish belonging to the ghost knifefish family (Apteronotidae). They originate in freshwater habitats in South America where they range from Venezuela to the Paraguay–Paraná River, including the Amazon Basin.
The fish is all black except for two white rings on its tail, and a white blaze on its nose, which can occasionally extend into a stripe down its back. It moves mainly by undulating a long fin on its underside.
It will grow to a maximum length of 30 to 50 cm.
Black ghost knifefish are nocturnal. They are a weakly electric fish which use an electric organ and receptors distributed over the length of their body in order to locate insect larvae.
