Giant Green Knifefish

Latin name: Sternopygus macrurus

Sadly this fish can no longer be seen at Bolton Aquarium after our specimen died at the the start of 2010.

This fascinating species, one of the family of Electric Knifefishes, is found in Venezuela. It is one of the largest of the group at over 1 metre, and is highly predatory.

Its eyes are tiny and barely functional, to the point that it can probably only tell light from dark. It hunts at night using electricity to navigate and can detect the tiny electrical signals given off by other living things. It is fed in the aquarium on cockles, mussels and small dead fish.

Further Information

More detailed information about this fish can be found on the Sternopygus macrurus page on the Fishbase web site.