Molly Ayala
Electric eels, or Electrophorus, are neotropical freshwater fish from South America. They are found in the murky pools and calm stretches of the middle and lower Amazon and Orinoco river basins. They live in muddy, dark waters and have poor eyesight. They are able to produce electrical discharges of up to 860 volts, which they use to stun prey and keep predators at bay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Calm stretches of the middle and lower Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Water Conditions | Murky, muddy, dark, low in oxygen |
| Bottom Conditions | Muddy river bottoms, sometimes swamps, deep shade |
| Nocturnal | Yes |
| Diet | Invertebrates, crabs, freshwater shrimp, amphibians, fishes, crustaceans |
| Length | Up to 8 feet (some sources say 9 feet) |
| Weight | Up to 45 pounds (some sources say up to 50 pounds) |
| Vision | Poor |
| Breeding | Male-female pairs are seen in small pools after water levels drop |
| Lifespan (in captivity) | Over 20 years |
| Behavior | Electric shocks for stunning prey and defense |
| Shock Voltage | Up to 860 volts (some sources say up to 600 or 650 volts) |
| Related Species | Carp, catfish, banded knifefish |
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What You'll Learn
They inhabit muddy, dark waters
Electric eels inhabit muddy, dark waters in the middle and lower Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. They are found in the calm stretches of these rivers, as well as in the pools and swamps of these regions. They are also found in upland waters, in the fast-flowing rivers of the Guiana Shield and the Brazilian Shield.
These eels are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, so they rely on their electric capabilities to navigate and find prey in the dark waters. They emit a weak electric signal, which they use like a radar to move around, find a mate, and locate prey. Once they find their prey, they use a much stronger electric shock to stun it. This shock can be as powerful as 860 volts, more than five times the power of a standard US wall socket. This is enough to stun or kill prey and protect them from predators.
Electric eels are not true eels but are members of the electroreceptive knifefish order Gymnotiformes, which is more closely related to carp and catfish. They have long, cylindrical bodies and slightly flattened heads, with no dorsal fin and a long, extended anal fin. This fin flutters like a ribbon, allowing them to move forward and backward with ease.
The vital organs of electric eels are contained in just one-fifth of their body, located directly behind their head. They have three specialized electric organs: the main electrical organ, Hunter's organ, and Sachs' organ, which make up about 80% of their body. These organs create both strong and weak electric charges, which are used for defence, hunting, communication, and navigation.
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They are nocturnal
Electric eels are nocturnal. They live in muddy, dark waters and have poor eyesight. To navigate their surroundings, find a mate, and locate prey, they emit a weak electric signal, which they use like radar. Once they have located prey, they use a much stronger shock to stun it. They can produce electrical discharges of up to 860 volts, although some sources state 600 or 650 volts.
Electric eels are found in the calm waters of the middle and lower Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. They are also found in the Guiana Shield and Brazilian Shield, as well as in the lowlands, where their habitats range from streams and grassland to ponds and swamps. They can tolerate low-oxygen water because they swim to the surface to breathe air.
Electric eels are not true eels but are members of the electroreceptive knifefish order Gymnotiformes, which is more closely related to carp and catfish. They have long, cylindrical bodies and slightly flattened heads. Their vital organs are contained in just one-fifth of their body, directly behind their head. They lack pelvic fins and have a small caudal fin and no dorsal fins. Instead, they have an elongated anal fin that helps them move forward, backward, and hover as they search for prey.
Electric eels are top predators, with few other animals willing or able to take on these highly charged fish. They are known to eat amphibians, fish, and crustaceans, and they can grow to more than eight feet in length and weigh nearly 50 pounds. In captivity, some specimens have lived for over 20 years, and they are known to communicate using low electric organ discharges.
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They are found in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins
Electric eels are neotropical freshwater fish that are found in the calm, muddy waters of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. They are members of the subfamily Electrophorinae, which falls under the family Gymnotidae. They are the only members of this subfamily.
The eels are known for their ability to stun prey by generating electricity, delivering shocks of up to 860 volts. They are not considered "true" eels, as they are more closely related to carp and catfish. Instead of using their eyes, which have poor vision, they emit a weak electric signal to navigate, find a mate, and locate prey. Once prey is found, they use a much stronger shock to stun it, usually smaller fish, amphibians, or crustaceans.
The electric eel's habitat is typically in the middle and lower sections of the river basins, where they inhabit murky pools and calm stretches of water. They are mostly nocturnal and can tolerate water low in oxygen by swimming to the surface to breathe air. They are also found in the upland waters of the Guiana Shield and Brazilian Shield, as well as in lowland regions with variable habitats, including streams, grassland, ravines, and ponds.
Electric eels are top predators, growing to more than 8 feet in length and weighing up to 50 pounds. They are abundant throughout their range and are protected by strict laws in some areas to prevent them from posing a potential threat to local fish and human populations if they escape captivity.
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They are not true eels
Electric eels are not true eels. They are a type of neotropical freshwater fish from South America. They are members of the electroreceptive knifefish order Gymnotiformes, which is more closely related to carp and catfish. Electric eels are found in the murky pools and calm stretches of the middle and lower Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. They are also found in upland waters, lowland regions, and sometimes swamps, favouring areas in deep shade.
Electric eels are obligate air-breathing animals, meaning they need to surface about every ten minutes to breathe. They have small eyes and poor vision, and they are capable of hearing via a Weberian apparatus. All of their vital organs are packed in near the front of their body, taking up only 20% of space. Electric eels can locate their prey using electroreceptors derived from the lateral line organ in the head. They are also known for their ability to stun their prey by generating electricity, delivering shocks of up to 860 volts.
The electric eel's name comes from its eel-shaped body, which can grow to 9 feet (2.75 meters) long and weigh almost 50 pounds (22.7 kg). They are sexually dimorphic, with males being larger than females and becoming reproductively active at a larger size. Electric eels are also known for their long lifespan, with some specimens living for over 20 years in captivity.
The electric eel was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766, based on early field research by Europeans in South America. In 1864, Theodore Gill moved the electric eel to its own genus, Electrophorus, derived from the Greek words for "amber, a substance able to hold static electricity" and "I carry". In 1998, Albert and Campos-da-Paz lumped the Electrophorus genus with the family Gymnotidae, and in 2019, electric eels were split into three species based on DNA divergence, ecology, habitat, anatomy, and physiology.
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They are members of the electroreceptive knifefish order Gymnotiformes
Electric eels are members of the electroreceptive knifefish order Gymnotiformes. They are not closely related to true eels (Anguilliformes) but are more closely related to carp and catfish. They are the only members of the subfamily Electrophorinae within the family Gymnotidae.
The electric eel was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766 as Gymnotus electricus, based on early field research in South America. In 1864, Theodore Gill reclassified it as Electrophorus electricus, its own genus. The name "electricus" is derived from the Greek word for "electricity bearer."
In 2019, the electric eel genus was reclassified into three species: E. electricus, E. voltai, and E. varii. E. electricus and E. voltai are upland species that inhabit fast-flowing rivers, while E. varii is found in lowland environments with variable habitats, including streams, grassland, ravines, and ponds.
Electric eels are found in the muddy, dark waters of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. They are mostly nocturnal, with poor eyesight, and use weak electric signals to navigate, find prey, and communicate. They grow continuously throughout their lives and can reach lengths of up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) or more.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric eels are found in the muddy waters of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America.
Electric eels are found in fresh water, unlike true eels, which mostly live in salt water. They are also air-breathing, so they swim to the surface to breathe.
They live in dark, murky pools and calm stretches of water. They are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, so they use weak electric signals to navigate and find prey.
Yes, in 2019, electric eels were split into three species. E. electricus is found in the north in the Guiana Shield, E. voltai is found in the south, and E. varii is found in the central lowlands.
