Cyphomyrus

Cyphomyrus is a genus with 8 species in this atlas, catalogued in the Arowanas & Oddballs section, recorded from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Cameroon and 20 more countries. Adult sizes run from 3.5 in to 12 in. Every species below links to a full researched profile.

Species in atlas
8
Adult sizes
3.5–12 in
IUCN assessed
8 of 8
Recorded from
23 countries

About the genus

Cyphomyrus is a genus of African elephantfishes in the family Mormyridae, part of the ancient bonytongue lineage (Osteoglossiformes) that also includes the true arowanas. Like other mormyrids, Cyphomyrus species generate a weak electric field from a caudal electric organ and read distortions in that field through an electroreceptive snout region, using the sense for navigation, prey detection, and communication in dark or turbid water, an adaptation that goes along with largely nocturnal habits. The atlas's countries for the genus span a wide belt of sub-Saharan Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Tanzania, Benin, Botswana, and Burkina Faso. The atlas covers 8 species, ranging from about 3.5–12 in.

Common names such as the Zambezi parrotfish (Cyphomyrus discorhynchus) and Graham's stonebasher (C. grahami) reflect regional folk names applied to mormyrids generally. Cyphomyrus has only a niche presence in the aquarium hobby; elephantfishes as a group are prized by specialist keepers for their electrolocation behavior and apparent intelligence but are demanding fish, sensitive to water quality and usually best kept alone or with calm tankmates in a soft, dim, well-filtered tank. None of the eight species carry a CARES designation, and the conservation picture so far is mixed but not alarming, with four rated Least Concern, one Data Deficient, and three not yet formally evaluated.

IUCN Red List: Least Concern · 4 Data Deficient · 1 Not Evaluated · 3

The 8 species

Every Cyphomyrus recorded in this atlas. Each card links to a full researched profile — distribution, water parameters, and aquarium care, cited to primary sources.

(Poll, 1945)

3.5 in TL · DD

(Peters, 1852)

Zambezi parrotfish, Elephantfish

12 in TL · LC

(Norman, 1928)

Graham's stonebasher

10 in SL · LC

Mulelenu, Katemo Manda, Decru, Chocha Manda & Vreven, 2020

4.5 in TL · NE

(Boulenger, 1909)

7.5 in SL · LC

(Boulenger, 1897)

12 in TL · NE

(Boulenger, 1902)

Weeks' mormyrid

6 in TL · NE

(Boulenger, 1898)

10 in TL · LC

Explore further

How to cite

Aquarist Atlas (2026). Genus Cyphomyrus. Aquarist Atlas. https://www.aquaristatlas.com/cyphomyrus/

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