Electrophorus electricus
Fast Facts
- Electric eels have adapted to thrive in low-oxygen water by breathing air from the surface.
- Electric eels communicate through electric pulses, typically for breeding purposes
- They have motion-sensitive hairs that can sense small changes in water pressure, which helps them hunt
- Electric eels are not a true eel, but a type of knife fish
Range
Amazon River Basin
Habitat
slow moving water, typically shaded
Size
6 to 8 feet
Nutrition
insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals