Baron, VD & VM Olshansky, 2009. Monopolar electric discharges of the catfish Parasilurus asotus (Siluridae, Siluriformes). Journal of Ichthyology 49: 403–408.*
Abstract
Electric discharges in the catfish Parasilurus asotus are registered for the first time. The discharges are monopolar pulses of a 50–300 ms duration which corresponds to the frequency characteristics of ampoules of electroreceptors in these catfish. Electric generation is discovered only upon the aggressive-defensive behavior of not less than two species. In solitary fish no discharges were observed neither at prolonged continuous registration (longer than 24 h each) nor at mechanical stimulation. The hypothesis is discussed of a potential mechanism of active (under use of their own electric discharges) monitoring of water conductivity with a relative sensitivity on the order of 0.0002%. This hypothesis may be applied to an explanation of anomalous group behavior of these catfish before earthquakes.
*Original Russian text published in Voprosy Ikhtiologii, 2009, 49: 415–421.
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