francisco mago leccia (“mago”) was born in tumeremo, bolívar state, venezuela on may 21, 1931 and died in puerto la cruz, anzoátegui state, venezuela on february 27, 2004. mago was a distinguished venezuelan ichthyologist who specialized in electric fish of the rivers and lagoons of south america, particularly of venezuela. his education was docent in biology and chemistry graduate from the “instituto pedagógico de caracas”, (today universidad pedagógica experimental el libertador), master of sciences (marine biology) from the university of miami, florida, u.s.a., doctor in sciences from universidad central de venezuela. his doctoral thesis was entitled: “"los peces gymnotiformes de venezuela: un estudio preliminar para la revisión del grupo en la américa del sur"” (the gymnotiformes fish of venezuela: a preliminary study for the revision of the group in south america).