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Porotergus

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Porotergus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gymnotiformes
Family: Apteronotidae
Genus: Porotergus
M. M. Ellis in C. H. Eigenmann, 1912

Porotergus is a genus of ghost knifefishes found in the Amazon and Essequibo basins in tropical South America. They are found over sandy bottoms in shallow (P. gymnotus) or deep rivers (two remaining).[1] They feed on small aquatic insect larvae. They have a stubby snout and are fairly small knifefish, with the largest species reaching up to 27 cm (11 in) in total length.[1]

Species

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There are currently three described species in this genus:[2]

UCLA flag pole

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The base of UCLA's central flag pole, a gift to the university from Jacob Gimbel, features a brass plaque depicting P. gimbeli.

References

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  1. ^ a b David de Santana, C.; W.G.R. Crampton (2010). "A Review of the South American Electric Fish Genus Porotergus (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae) with the Description of a New Species". Copeia. 2010 (1): 165–175. doi:10.1643/ci-05-136. S2CID 83780152.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Porotergus". FishBase. October 2017 version.