Naked-back knifefish
| Naked-back knifefish | |
|---|---|
| Banded knifefish (Gymnotus carapo) | |
| Electric eel, Electrophorus electricus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gymnotiformes |
| Family: | Gymnotidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Genera | |
|
see text | |
The naked-back knifefishes are a family, the Gymnotidae, of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Gymnotiformes. The fishes in this family are found only in fresh waters of Central America and South America. All have organs adapted to electroreception. The family has about 43 valid species in two genera. These fish are nocturnal and mostly occur in quiet waters from deep rivers to swamps. In strongly flowing waters, they may bury themselves.