GYMNOTIFORMES

Phillip, Dawn A. T., Taphorn, Donald C., Holm, Erling, Gilliam, James F., Lamphere, Bradley A. & López-Fernández, Hernán, 2013, Annotated list and key to the stream fishes of Trinidad & Tobago, Zootaxa 3711 (1), pp. 1-64 : 19

ORDER GYMNOTIFORMES

FAMILY GYMNOTIDAE

Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus 1758 [cutlass fish, tiger knife fish, electric fish]

Turbid, shallow, slow-flowing or stagnant waters (Barbieri & Cruz Barbieri 1983, Albert & Crampton 2003) in canals and streams, prefers turbid water, but occasionally found in clear-water streams; capable of air breathing (Liem et al., 1984). Distributed in streams south of the Northern Range divide (Kenny 1995). Native. Potamodromous on mainland. Breeds in the wet season (Cruz Barbieri 1981, Ponton & de Mérona 1998); males are mouth-brooders (Albert & Crampton 2003). Carnivorous; adults feed on fishes (Winemiller 1992, Albert & Crampton 2003); juveniles feed on insects (Meschiatti & Arcifa 2002) and mollusks (Albert & Crampton 2003). 760 mm.