Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) fish species and information / pictures of Electric eel - Electrophorus electricus

Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Electrophorus electricus

Common Name
Electric eel

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0. Body elongated and cylindrical, almost without scales; head flattened; mouth large with one row of conical teeth on each jaw; presence of three abdominal pairs of electric organs; body color dark with anterior ventral part yellowish (Ref. 12225).

Classification

Classified By
Linnaeus, 1766
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Knifefishes (Gymnotiformes)
Family
Naked-back knifefishes (Gymnotidae)

Distribution

Region
South America
Distribution
South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins, and related areas in northern South America.
Range
Unknown

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
23 °C
Water Temperature To
28 °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
benthopelagic
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Trophic Level
3.89 s.e. 0.52 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
False
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
250 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Vulnerability
High vulnerability (61 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3; tmax=6 (captive); Fec=17,000)
Threat To Humans
Other
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)