Elephant-snout fish (Mormyrus kannume)

Scientific name: Mormyrus kannume Forssk?l, 1775

The Elephant-snout fish (Mormyrus kannume) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–26°C (72–79°F). Native range: Africa, Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and George; also from the Nile, including the Victoria and Murchison Nile, probably in the Athi River.

Elephant-snout fish care at a glance

Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines: 0; Anal spines: 0. Dorsal head profile straight or somewhat curved, sloping steeply. Snout produced into a stout trunk whose thickness and angle to the face are variable. Lips thick. Eye small. Dull bronze dorsally, lighter ventrally.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Mormyrus kannume
Family: Mormyridae (Elephantfishes)
Order: Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Common length: 60.0
Depth range: 0–70 m (0–230 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; demersal; depth range 0 - 70 m, usually 0 - 50 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Africa: Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and George; also from the Nile, including the Victoria and Murchison Nile, probably in the Athi River.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 1,393)