# Electric Eel — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Electrophorus electricus*

> The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is a freshwater fish of South America famous for generating powerful electric shocks to stun prey and defend itself. Despite the name it is not a true eel but a knifefish, growing up to 2.5 m long and weighing around 20 kg.

**IUCN status:** Least Concern  ·  **WARN range:** South America

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Electrophorus electricus |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Murky freshwater streams and pools |
| Lifespan | About 15 years in the wild |
| Length | Up to 2.5 m (8 ft) |
| Top speed | Slow, undulating swimmer |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Gymnotiformes
- **Family:** Gymnotidae
- **Genus:** Electrophorus

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Least Concern (IUCN Red List category)
- **Population:** Global population not compiled for this guide
- **Trend:** See the IUCN Red List assessment
- **Assessed:** See the IUCN Red List assessment
- **CITES:** See CITES appendices
- Conservation figures are drawn from the IUCN Red List and CITES; this guide links to the authoritative sources rather than restating population counts.

## Key facts: Electric Eel
- Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel at all but a type of knifefish, more closely related to catfish and carp than to the eels of the sea.
- Most of the electric eel's body is packed with specialised cells called electrocytes, stacked like the cells in a battery.
- The electric eel is a carnivore that preys on fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.

## Not a true eel
Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel at all but a type of knifefish, more closely related to catfish and carp than to the eels of the sea. It gets its name from its long, cylindrical, eel-like body, which can reach 2.5 m in length. It swims slowly by rippling a long fin that runs along the underside of its body. This undulating motion lets it move forward or backward with equal ease through cluttered water.

## How it generates electricity
Most of the electric eel's body is packed with specialised cells called electrocytes, stacked like the cells in a battery. When the eel discharges, thousands of these cells fire at once, producing a jolt strong enough to stun prey or deter a predator. It also emits weaker pulses used for navigation and to sense its surroundings in murky water. This makes electricity central to both hunting and communication.

## Hunting and diet
The electric eel is a carnivore that preys on fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. It hunts by releasing high-voltage discharges that stun or immobilise nearby prey, then swallows the helpless animal whole. Weak electric pulses help it locate targets it cannot see in cloudy, sediment-filled water. Because its eyesight is poor, it depends heavily on its electrical sense to find food.

## Breathing air
Electric eels live in oxygen-poor waters and cannot rely on their gills alone, so they gulp air at the surface using a specialised, blood-rich lining in the mouth. They must surface every few minutes to breathe, and would drown if unable to reach the surface. This adaptation lets them survive in stagnant, muddy pools where many other fish could not. It also means they spend much of their life near the surface.

## Habitat and range
Electric eels are found in the murky freshwater streams, pools, and floodplains of northern South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They prefer slow-moving, muddy water with plenty of cover. This dim, sediment-rich environment suits an animal that hunts by electricity rather than sight. They spend most of their time near the bottom, rising only to breathe.

## Life and conservation
Electric eels live about 15 years in the wild. During the dry season, a male builds a nest of saliva into which the female lays her eggs, and he guards the developing young. The species is widespread across its range and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its remote, murky habitat has helped keep populations stable.

## What WARN does
WARN does not run a dedicated electric eel programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The electric eel is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the electric eel supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.

## Frequently asked questions: Electric Eel
### Is an electric eel a real eel?
No. Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but a knifefish, more closely related to catfish and carp. It earned the name from its long, eel-like body shape.

### How does an electric eel produce electricity?
Most of its body is filled with specialised cells called electrocytes, stacked like a battery. When thousands fire together, they release a powerful electric discharge used to stun prey and defend against predators, along with weaker pulses for navigation.

### What do electric eels eat?
Electric eels are carnivores that eat fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. They stun prey with high-voltage shocks and then swallow the immobilised animal whole.

### How big do electric eels get?
Electric eels can grow up to 2.5 m long and weigh around 20 kg, making them large among freshwater fish. Their long, cylindrical bodies are packed with electricity-producing cells.

### Do electric eels breathe air?
Yes. Electric eels live in oxygen-poor water and gulp air at the surface using a blood-rich lining in the mouth. They must surface every few minutes and would drown without access to air.

### How long do electric eels live?
Electric eels live about 15 years in the wild. They are widespread across northern South America and are listed as Least Concern.

### Where do electric eels live?
Electric eels live in murky freshwater streams, pools and floodplains of northern South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They prefer slow-moving, sediment-rich water with cover and spend most of their time near the bottom, rising to gulp air at the surface every few minutes. The species grows up to 2.5 m long, weighs around 20 kg and is listed Least Concern.

### Are electric eels dangerous?
Electric eels can be dangerous. Thousands of specialised electrocytes can discharge a powerful jolt strong enough to stun prey or deter predators, and repeated shocks can harm a person wading in muddy water. They are not aggressive hunters of humans but defend themselves when disturbed. Adults reach up to 2.5 m and weigh around 20 kg, relying on electricity for navigation as much as defence because eyesight is poor in cloudy water.

## Sources
- [IUCN Red List — Electrophorus electricus](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Electrophorus%20electricus&searchType=species)
- [Wikipedia — Electric Eel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophorus_electricus)
- [Wikidata — Electric Eel](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201235)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/electric-eel