The Bebe mormyrid (''Hyperopisus bebe'') is a species of elephantfish in the family
Mormyridae. It is the only species in its genus and is divided into two
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
.
This species is known from many rivers in the northern half of Africa, ranging from the
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
to the
Nile
The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin language, Nobiin: Áman Dawū is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered ...
basin.
It reaches a length of .
[
]
Biology
The Bebe morymid inhabits both still and flowing bodies of water. The species' diet consists mainly of mollusks. It possesses electroreceptors over its head and on the ventral and dorsal regions of the body, but they are absent from the side and the caudal peduncle where the electric organ is located.
Subspecies
* ''Hyperopisus bebe bebe'' (Lacépède Lacepede can refer to:
* Bernard Germain de Lacépède (1756–1825), French naturalist and politician.
* Lacepede Bay, a bay in South Australia.
* Lacépède, Lot-et-Garonne, a ''commune'' in France
* Lacepede Islands, a group of four islands in t ...
1803)
* ''Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis'' Günther 1866
References
Weakly electric fish
Mormyridae
Monotypic ray-finned fish genera
Fish described in 1803
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