Electric eel notes

Electric eel

Electrophorus electricus
The electric eel is an electric fish, and the only species in its genus

It lives in fresh water

It is not an eel, but rather a knifefish

They normally grow to about 2 m in length, and 20 kg in weight
 They are the largest species of the Gymnotiformes

The electric eel is capable of generating powerful electric shocks of up to 860 volts
 Three abdominal pairs of organs that produce electricity: the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sach's organ
  These organs are made of electrocytes
 The electric eel the ability to generate two types of electric organ discharges:
  Low voltage and high voltage
  This generation of low and high voltage is used for hunting, self-defense and communicating with fellow eels

The electric eel has a well developed sense of hearing

It has a vascularized respiratory organ in its oral cavity
 Electric eels must rise to the surface every 10 minutes or so to inhale
 before returning to the bottom again
  Nearly 80% of the oxygen used by the fish is retrieved in this way


Extra:
A male electric eel makes a nest from his saliva into which the female lays her eggs