Mormyridae

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Mormyridae (elephant fish; superorder Osteoglossomorpha, order Mormyriformes) A fairly large family of freshwater fish, characterized in most species by the presence of an elongate, trunk-like snout. The eyes and mouth are small and the tail fin is forked; the size of the dorsal and anal fins is variable. Several species possess electric organs capable of emitting series of low-voltage discharges, perhaps as a means of finding the way in darkness, since mormyrids are basically nocturnal. There are about 100 species, found in tropical Africa.

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