Electric Eel
Electrophorus electricus
The living power plant of the Amazon. Despite its name, it is not a true eel, but a knifefish with the ability to generate electric shocks of up to 600 volts.
The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is a knifefish-like freshwater fish that can reach 2.5 metres long. It is one of nature's greatest bioelectricity generators: its electric organs can produce voltages of up to 600 volts and currents of 1 ampere — enough to stun an adult human.
These fish use weak electric fields for orientation in murky waters and strong shocks for hunting and defence. In Panama they are found in the freshwater rivers of Darién and the Panama Canal watershed.
Caution: only bathe in unknown waters of the Darién with a local guide.
- Kind
- fish
- Season
- year_round
- Habitat
- Freshwater rivers, streams and floodplains in lowland tropical rainforests.