Each species listed in the checklist has a number, referring to the family, the genus, the species and on occasion, the subspecies. In the case of African electric fishes this are: Family 16, genus 1-18, and various numbers of species and, in a given case, subspecies. Family 16 are Mormyridae, family 17. Gymnarchidae, both author J.-P. Gosse. CLOFFA-nos. are noted as 16.13.2.1 = family, genus, species, possibly: subspecies, e. g. Mormyrus caballus asinus, Boulenger, 1898.