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How do true eels differ from electric eels?

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American eel (Anguilla rostrata) — eel The American eel (*Anguilla rostrata*) is found in habitats along the coast of eastern North America.

True eels and electric eels are fundamentally different creatures despite their shared name. While the term "eel" is colloquially applied to over 500 species of slender, elongated fish, the electric eel is not a true eel at all.12

True Eels
True eels belong to the order Anguilliformes. They are characterized by their elongated, usually scaleless bodies and a continuous dorsal and anal fin that wraps around the tail tip. They typically lack pelvic fins and have reduced gill openings. Many species are predatory and exhibit complex life cycles, often migrating between freshwater and the sea to spawn.13

Electric Eels
Despite their name and appearance, electric eels (Electrophorus) are actually a type of South American knifefish related to piranhas and tetras. Key differences include:24
* Electricity: They possess specialized organs derived from muscle tissue that can discharge up to 860 volts to stun prey, navigate, and communicate.24
* Respiration: Unlike many true eels, electric eels are air-breathers that must surface periodically to gulp air, using their mouths as lungs.24
* Anatomy: Their tail region makes up about four-fifths of their total length and contains the electric organs.24