Malapterurus microstoma, the smallmouth electric catfish, is a species of electric catfish native to the Congo River basin of Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. This species grows to a length of SL. This fish can be found in the aquarium trade. It is illegal to possess any species of electric catfish for personal or commercial use in Florida.
The genus name Malapterurus comes from Ancient Greek üñûñúÃÂà(malakós) meaning "soft", ÃÂÃÂõÃÂÃÂý (pterón), meaning "wing", and ÿá½ÂÃÂì (ourá), meaning "tail". The specific epithet microstoma comes from Ancient Greek üùúÃÂÃÂà(mikrós), meaning "small", and ÃÂÃÂÃÂüñ (stóma), meaning "mouth".