There are, however, electric fish: eight-foot long, 600 volt, mouth breathing, alligator-killing fish.
Although there are a number of fish that produce an electric charge, the species that is called "electric eel," E. electricus, is a member of the fish order, ostariophysian.
Mistaken for an eel due to its shape and lack of pelvic, caudal and dorsal fins, E. electricus has a long (up to 8 feet), cylindrical body with a flat head. Its vital organs are found in the front fifth of its body (near the head), while the rest of its long body contains three electric organs, together filled with nearly 6,000 specialized electrocyte cells that, as the name suggests, produce, store and discharge electricity.
The electric organs begin to develop early in the fish's lifetime. The Sachs, which produces only a weak electric charge and is used for echolocation, begins to develop very soon after birth. The other two electric organs, known as the main and the Hunter's, produce much higher voltages of around 600 volts and about 1 amp, so about 600 watts for approximately 2 milliseconds.
Although the fish has gills, it takes in most of its oxygen through its "highly vascular mouth," and, therefore, often comes to the water's surface to breathe.
The fish is also covered with a thick, gray to brownish/black skin. It is presumed that this tough layer protects it from its own electrical current.
To reproduce, the female of the species deposits up to 17,000 eggs in a spit-nest made by the male during the dry season, and, on average, 1,200 of those eggs hatch. In captivity, male electric fish live up to 15 years and females up to 22.
E. electricus Habitat
The electric fish is native to the South America, particularly the Orinoco and Guyanas rivers, as well as large portions of the Amazon river basin. It lives on river bottoms and in swamps, and thrives in relatively low-oxygen waters because of its propensity to mouth breathe.
E. electricus uses its electric organs for orientation, hunting and defense.
While swimming through its murky hab