Synodontid catfish: a new group of weakly electric fish. Behavior and anatomy.
Three species of synodontid catfish can produce weak biphasic electric discharges in either continuous or burst-like fashion. The peak-power frequency of these electric organ discharges is around 100 Hz. The electric organ appears to have originated from a sonic muscle: the organ lies dorsal to the swim bladder, contains modified muscle tissue, and is innervated from a motor nucleus located in the caudal medulla. It is possible that synodontid catfish use electric signals in communication and/or object detection.
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
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D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002397:Catfishes / Q000502:physiology*; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D013045:Species Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology