It’s astounding to think that with all the exploration that has been done on this planet, we are still discovering new species. A new fish discovered in the African nation of Gabon is shocking scientists with its unique abilities. This is a fish that can “talk” using electricity. Meet the newest electric fish, a small fellow with a big talent.
Called the cryptomyrus (hidden fish) ogoouensis (for its discovery in the Ogooue River), this unassuming fish is only about four and a half inches long, with a protruding chin and golden brown coloration. What makes it special is its ability to use electrical impulses to communicate. The cryptomyrus ogoouensis is a member of a group of fish classified as “weakly electric fish.” Also known as mormyrids, they don’t pack the wattage of an electric eel. Instead, they generate a low energy field that can help them find prey in the dark, typically less than one volt.
This particular type of weakly electric fish, however, sends out a specific type of waveform, one so precise that it acts like a caller ID. The signal has a unique signature readable by humans using an oscilloscope. The cryptomyrus ogoouensis can send out a signal that others of its kind can recognize and respond to.
Mormyrids are able to generate these electrical pulses through a group of special muscle cells at the base of their tails. If a person were to pick up a large mormyrid but the tail, they might feel a small tingle, as the fish don’t generate enough power to shock a large animal. Their electrical signals are used for hunting, and as with this new species, for communication.
Mormyrids also have electroreceptors, similar to those in sharks. When a likely food source is nearby, such as an insect larva, it interrupts the mormyrid’s electrical field and activates the electroreceptors. The ogoouensis has two other types of receptors, one for navigating in the dark, and one to detect other weakly electric fish. It can even alter its signal to indicate its mood or gender, giving the receiver a relatively complete picture of who is nearby. Not bad for a tiny fish that is just making its debut!
