{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "electric-eel",
  "name": "Electric Eel",
  "scientificName": "Electrophorus electricus",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "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. It is a slow, undulating swimmer that lives in murky streams and pools and breathes air at the surface. Electric eels live about 15 years and are listed as Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Actinopterygii",
    "order": "Gymnotiformes",
    "family": "Gymnotidae",
    "genus": "Electrophorus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 20,
    "lengthM": 2.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 8,
    "lifespanYears": 15
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Electrophorus electricus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Murky freshwater streams and pools"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "About 15 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "Up to 2.5 m (8 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Slow, undulating swimmer"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Murky freshwater streams and pools of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America.",
    "continents": [
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Electrophorus electricus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Electrophorus%20electricus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Electrophorus electricus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Electrophorus_electricus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Electric Eel.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophorus_electricus"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/electric-eel/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/electric-eel/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}