The electric eel resides in the murky freshwater pools and streams of South America, preferring to dwell near the muddy bottom of calm waters. The electric eel gets its name from its power of electrical shock, which it uses for defense and hunting. Adult eels typically feed on smaller fish and amphibians, but the size of its prey increases with the eel’s size and electrical power.

During the day, this nocturnal species spends most of its time hiding under shelter or in holes. The electric eel is also an obligate air-breathing fish and must absorb oxygen by breathing air into the mouth. The electrical receptors of the eel can be used to identify transmissions from other non-electrical fish and detect the heartbeat of nearby fish. It also may be possible for the eel to identify other electrical eels in surrounding waters.

You can visit this shocking species in the River Scout gallery at the Georgia Aquarium.

• This eel has a large mouth with one row of cone-shaped teeth on each jaw.
• The eel is the largest of the knifefish and can grow up to eight feet long.
• The primary use of electric power is for defense against predators or to secure prey.
• The electric eel’s shock can exceed 500 volts.
• As long as its skin is kept moist, it can survive for several hours in air.

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