/gymnotiformes/gymnotidae/electrophorus/electricus/1.jpg "Electrophorus electricus")
/gymnotiformes/gymnotidae/electrophorus/electricus/2.jpg "Electrophorus electricus")
Close-up of head/gymnotiformes/gymnotidae/electrophorus/electricus/3.jpg "Electrophorus electricus")
 All Fishes Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Electrophorus electricus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
| Common Names | Electric Eel Elektrisk ål (Sweden), Zitteraal (Germany) |
| Type Locality | Suriname; South American rivers. |
| Synonym(s) | Electrophorus multivalvulus, Gymnotus electricus, Gymnotus regius, Gymnotus tremulus |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 2500mm or 98.4" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| General Remarks | Generates two type of electric organ discharges (EODs) from different electric organs which are of myogenic derivation: 1) low-voltage EODs (about 10 V) emitted by the Sach's organ at rates of up to 25 Hz, and 2) high-voltage EODs (about 50-fold) emitted by the main and Hunter's organs at peak rates of up to several hundred Hz. Low-voltage EOD has been associated with electro location whereas high-voltage EOD has been noted during predatory attacks. An EOD of 500 V was recorded from a 1 m specimen. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | South America: Amazonas Basin. Orinoco, and related areas in northern South America. |
| IUCN Red List Category | Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Breeding | In nature, males construct foam nests and guard the growing larvae until mid-January when the first seasonal rains flood the breeding area, causing the about 10 cm long young eels to disperse. |
| Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
| Further Information | |
| Reference | Systema naturae sive regna tria naturae v. 1 (pt 1), pp 427. |
| Registered Keepers | There is no registered keeper. |
| Wishlists | Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species. |
| Spotters | Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it. |
| Forum BBCode | |
 | Look up E. electricus on Fishbase |
 | Look up E. electricus on Encyclopedia of Life |
 | Look up E. electricus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| LFS label creator ARN ref:8.104.989.5472 | |
| Last Update | 2025 Jan 01 13:00 (species record created: 2013 Sep 06 17:51) |