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electric eel
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electric eel Illustration of an electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) showing its external appearance above and a labeled diagram below highlighting internal electric organs: Hunter's electric organ, main electric organ, and Sach's electric organ. A scale bar at the bottom indicates 40 centimeters and 12 inches for size reference. electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) An electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) swims among submerged tree branches, its long, thick body and rounded head visible in the water.
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electric eel
electric eel Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus).

electric eel

fish genus
Also known as: Electrophorus
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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electric eel, (genus Electrophorus), any of three species of elongated South American knifefishes that produce powerful electric shocks to stun prey, usually other fish. All three species—the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), Vari’s electric eel (E. varii), and Volta’s electric eel (E. voltai)—are found in the Amazon River or its tributaries. Electric eels have three electric organs—the main organ, Hunter’s organ, and Sach’s organ—which are made up of modified muscle cells. The main electric organ is...

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