What is "gymnotus"

Electric \E*lec"tric\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]k), Electrical \E*lec"tric*al\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]*kal), a. [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. 'h`lektron; akin to 'hle`ktwr the beaming sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. ['e]lectrique. The name came from the production of electricity by the friction of amber.]

1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark; an electric charge; an electric current; an electrical engineer.

2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance; an electric generator.

3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. ``Electric Pindar.''
   --Mrs. Browning.

4. powered by electricity; as, electrical appliances; an electric toothbrush; an electric automobile.

   Electric atmosphere, or Electric aura. See under Aura.

   Electrical battery. See Battery.

   Electrical brush. See under Brush.

   Electric cable. See Telegraph cable, under Telegraph.

   Electric candle. See under Candle.

   Electric cat (Zo["o]l.), one of three or more large species of African catfish of the genus Malapterurus (esp. M. electricus of the Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also sheathfish.

   Electric clock. See under Clock, and see Electro-chronograph.

   Electric current, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another which is in a different electrical state.

   Electric eel, or Electrical eel (Zo["o]l.), a South American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus Gymnotus ( G. electricus), from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See Gymnotus.

   Electrical fish (Zo["o]l.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus.

   Electric fluid, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning. [archaic]

   Electrical image (Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of electrical problems.
   --Sir W. Thomson.

   Electric machine, or Electrical machine, an apparatus for generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction.

   Electric motor. See Electro-motor, 2.

   Electric osmose. (Physics) See under Osmose.

   Electric pen, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle.

   Electric railway, a railway in which the machinery for moving the cars is driven by an electric current.

   Electric ray (Zo["o]l.), the torpedo.

   Electric telegraph. See Telegraph.

n. (context zoology English) Any of the genus (taxlink Gymnotus genus) of electric knifefishes.

Gymnotus is a genus of fish in the order Gymnotiformes found widely in the Neotropics, including the Amazon. Some Gymnotus species live in the leaf litter and root tangles of river banks. Other species are specialized to live on floodplains within the rootmats of floating meadows. Several species are broadly adapted to live in both of these habitats. Gymnotus species are nocturnal predators feeding on insects, crustaceans, and other fish. They generate weak electric fields used in locating objects, and also for communication in which the males court females using stereotyped electrical "songs".

Small scales are always present on this fish. The mouth is superior, meaning it is turned upwards. The anal fin terminates at a point near the tip of the tail. Species of Gymnotus reach up to about 100 cm in length. This is the most widespread genus of the order Gymnotiformes, extending from southern Mexico to Argentina. They also occur in Trinidad.

Michael Faraday extensively tested the electrical properties of a Gymnotus specimen, imported from Suriname. For a span of four months, Faraday carefully and humanely measured the electrical impulses produced by the animal by pressing shaped copper paddles and saddles against the specimen. Through this method, Faraday determined and quantified the direction and magnitude of electric current, and proved the animal's impulses were in fact electrical by observing sparks and deflections on a galvanometer.