electric catfish

American  

noun

1. a freshwater fish, Malapterurus electricus, of the Nile and tropical central Africa, that discharges electric shocks to immobilize prey and defend itself.

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Example Sentences

In the eleventh century, the Islamic polymath Avicenna reportedly recommended the placement of an electric catfish on the brow to counteract epilepsy.

From The New Yorker

The six groups include: South American knife fishes, African electric catfish, African elephant fish, stargazers, some skates and some rays.

From Reuters

I want to know more about the African electric catfish, please!

From New York Times