Electric eel
Neotropical freshwater fish that generate powerful electric shocks.
Electric eels are a genus, Electrophorus, of neotropical freshwater fish from South America in the family Gymnotidae.
- Scientific name
- Electrophorus
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Gymnotiformes
- Family
- Gymnotidae
- Habitat
- Northern South America, muddy river bottoms and swamps
Lore & Background
voltai, and E. varii, based on DNA divergence, ecology, anatomy, and electrical ability. E.
Reader's Guide
They are not true eels but belong to the knifefish order Gymnotiformes. Their three pairs of electric organs generate low- and high-voltage discharges for electrolocation and stunning prey. They are nocturnal, obligate air-breathers with poor vision, relying on electrolocation. They grow throughout life, adding vertebrae, and males are larger than females. Some captive specimens have lived over 20 years.
Did You Know?
- They are not closely related to true eels but are members of the knifefish order Gymnotiformes.
- Electric eels are obligate air-breathers and can survive on land for some hours if their skin is wet.
More in Fish 1-24
Elsewhere in the Fish universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record