Aba

Gymnarchus niloticus

Rat tail fin lacking pelvic fins

Tropical
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
Africa
Elongated
Large
Tropical fish

Gymnarchus niloticus – the aba, aba aba or frankfish – is an electric fish, living at the bottoms of rivers and lakes. It is the only species in the genus Gymnarchus and the family Gymnarchidae, within the order Osteoglossiformes. It is a long slender fish with no pelvic or anal fins, and a tail fin shaped like a rat's tail.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Bonytongues
Family: Gymnarchidae
Genus: Gymnarchus
Maximum length: 167 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Africa: basins of the rivers Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Niger and Chad in West Africa (Ref. 3530 , 81275 ). Also in the Nile River basin (Ref. 3530 , 28714 ) and Lake Turkana (Ref. 3530 , 52331 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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