Angola long-nosed elephant fish (Ibis-Nil pike)

Campylomormyrus cassaicus

 The Ibis Nilpike (Campylomormyrus numenius) belongs to the family of Mormyridae.

The external appearance of the ibis nilpike is immediately reminiscent of the external appearance of an elephant. At the end of the “trunk”, which can be up to 25 centimeters long, sits the mouth with a small extension of the chin. With this extension they rummage through the muddy soil of their surroundings. The fish can reach a length of about 65 centimeters and is therefore not one of the largest, but one of the larger members of its family. Its exterior is determined by dark gray to brown tones that serve as camouflage in the murky water. Like all fish in the Mormyridae family, the ibis nilpike has a weak electrical organ. This organ is used for orientation and for locating its prey.

Like almost all members of its genus, the Ibis Nilhecht is nocturnal. Only at dusk do these fish come out of crevices or other dark hiding spots. They rummage through the ground to get food. When foraging for food, the long proboscis offers many advantages, it enables them to penetrate into narrow crevices. Common foods for this fish include worms, larvae, or other small animals of similar size. The ibis Nilhecht usually disdains vegetable food.

The distribution area of ​​the ibis Nil pike is the entire Congo basin. There it occurs only in larger rivers and is also one of the edible fish of the inhabitants.