The electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, is a freshwater electrical fish. Of those fish able to generate an electrical discharge, electric eels are by far the most effective, producing up to 600 volts, which it uses for both hunting and self-defense. Electric eels live in muddy waters of the middle and lower Amazon and Orinoco River basins in South America, gulping air at the surface for most of its oxygen needs, instead of in the poorly oxygenated muddy water. They have poor vision and use electro location, low level electrical fields, to navigate. Higher levels of voltage are used to kill prey or defend themselves from predators. Juveniles eat invertebrates such as crabs and freshwater shrimp. Adults will eat amphibians, fish and crustaceans.
Not true eels, but rather a knifefish, these scaleless fish look like eels, with long, cylindrical bodies and a slightly flattened head. The color is dark gray-brown on the back and yellow or orange on the belly. Mature males have a darker color on the belly. The electric eel has no dorsal fin, but the anal fin extends from the tip of the tail nearly to the chin. This sinuous fin flutters like a ribbon, allowing the fish to move forward and backward easily. They can grow to 8 feet, and weigh 40 pounds.
The electric eel also has unusual breeding behavior - a male makes a nest from his saliva into which the female lays her eggs. As many as 17,000 young will hatch from the eggs in one nest.
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Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, native to Amazon & Orinoco Rivers in South America
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Image of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, native to Amazon & Orinoco Rivers in South America
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Stock photo of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, native to Amazon & Orinoco Rivers in South America
Picture #: 003876 |
Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus.
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Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, a potentially dangerous freshwater fish. Close up photo showing the head
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Image of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, Amazon Basin
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Stock photo of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, a potentially dangerous freshwater fish.
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Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus.
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Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus
Picture #: 032987 |
Image of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus
Picture #: 075145 |
Stock photo of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, close up of head
Picture #: 032986 |
Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus.
Picture #: 075146 |
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Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, a potentially dangerous freshwater fish. Close up photo showing the head.
Picture #: 079349 |
Image of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, close up of skin
Picture #: 095919 |
Stock photo of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, a potentially dangerous freshwater fish.
Picture #: 075144 |
Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, close up of head
Picture #: 075147 |
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Picture of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus
Picture #: 095918 |
Image of an electric eel, Electrophorus electricus
Picture #: 075142 |
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