Porotergus Explained

Porotergus is a genus of ghost knifefishes found in the Amazon and Essequibo basins in tropical South America. They are found over sandy bottoms in shallow (P. gymnotus) or deep rivers (two remaining).^[1] They feed on small aquatic insect larvae. They have a stubby snout and are fairly small knifefish, with the largest species reaching up to 27cm (11inches) in total length.^[1]

Species

There are currently three described species in this genus:

• Porotergus duende de Santana & Crampton, 2010
• Porotergus gimbeli M. M. Ellis, 1912, named for Jacob Gimbel, who financed the expedition on which it was discovered.
• Porotergus gymnotus M. M. Ellis, 1912

UCLA flag pole

The base of UCLA's central flag pole, a gift to the university from Jacob Gimbel, features a brass plaque depicting P. gimbeli.

Notes and References

1. David de Santana, C. . W.G.R. Crampton . 2010 . A Review of the South American Electric Fish Genus Porotergus (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae) with the Description of a New Species . Copeia . 2010 . 1 . 165–175 . 10.1643/ci-05-136. 83780152 .