‖ gymnotus
(dʒɪmˈnəʊtəs)
Pl. gymnoti (dʒɪmˈnəʊtaɪ).
[mod.L. (Linnæus 1748), for *gymnonōtus, f. Gr. γυµνό-ς naked + νῶτον back, with allusion to the absence of dorsal fins.]
A freshwater eel-like fish of South America, Electrophorus (formerly Gymnotus) electricus, capable of giving an electric shock; an electric eel.
| 1775 Williamson in Phil. Trans. LXV. 95, I am induced to believe, that the gymnotus has powers greatly superior to..those of the torpedo. 1834 Nat. Philos. III. Phys. Geog. 50/2 (U.K.S) The temperature of the waters in which the gymnoti habitually live, is from 78 to 80 degrees. 1854 Badham Halieut. 407 The gymnotus belongs to a small electric coterie composed of five individuals. |