1 photo - 1 species
Introduction
This fish is not an eel, as its name and appearance would suggest,
but is a New World knifefish.
It grows up to 2.8 metres long and can weigh up to 20 kilograms.
It only has a cylindrical body in common with eels.
Its anal fin runs over almost the entire body and ends at the tip of the tail.
There is no dorsal, caudal or ventral fin.
The electric eel is a predator with a powerful mouth.
Its colouring ranges from grey to brownish.
Electrophorus electricus
Electric eel
Maximum length: 2.8 m
The electric eel is an unusual species that is able to generate electric shocks.
These can be used both for hunting and defence.
It lives in muddy and low-oxygen fresh waters in northern and central South America,
in the Amazon basin.
It only has a long cylindrical body in common with the actual eels.
Its anal fin runs along almost the entire body and ends at the tip of the tail.
The colouring ranges from grey to brownish.
Photo 1 Johnny: Oberhausen Germany ( Aquarium )