Microcomputer‐based detection and analysis of the electric organ discharges in the mormyrid fish gnathonemus petersi

Abstract A microcomputer‐based monitoring system has been developed to study the electrical organ discharges (EOD) of the elephant fish Gnathonemus petersi (family: Mormyridae). The system can monitor up to 4 individual fish, whilst simultaneously performing graphical and comparative statistical analysis of the incoming data, expressed as pulses per minute (PPM). Normal EOD or stable patterns are quickly obtained if the elephant fish are maintained at 25°C for at least 48 h in laboratory aquaria tanks. Feeding and movements visible to the fish are among other factors which upset background EOD distributions.