Electric Eel

Electrophorus electricus

A long South American fish, more closely related to catfish than eels, that can make up to 800 volts of electricity.

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About the Electric Eel

Electric eels grow 6 to 8 feet long, with slender, snake-like bodies and thick, scaleless skin. They live in quiet, slow waters of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, including oxbow lakes, pools and flooded forests. Adults eat fish, crustaceans, insects and small amphibians, reptiles and mammals. They stun prey with powerful shocks.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Electrophorus electricus^[1]
Size: 6 to 8 feet long.^[1]
Lifespan: Males 10 to 15 years and females 12 to 22 in human care.^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Fish, crustaceans, insects and small amphibians, reptiles and mammals.^[1]
Habitat: Quiet, slow waters: oxbow lakes, streams, pools and flooded forests.^[1]
Where it lives: Northern South America: the Amazon and Orinoco river systems.^[1]
Babies: 1,200 to 1,700 eggs; males guard the young in saliva nests.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

Electric eels can make up to 800 volts.^[1]
They're more closely related to catfish than to true eels.^[1]
Fathers build nests out of spit.^[1]

Vocabulary

fish: A cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes with gills and usually has fins and scales.
electric organ: A body part that makes electricity.
volt: A unit used to measure the strength of electricity.
carnivore: An animal that eats mostly meat.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · AmazoniaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Electric eel.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/electric-eel (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Electrophorus electricus (Electric Eel).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/167700/53826515 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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