# Electric eel (*Electrophorus electricus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/electrophorus-electricus  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), also called the common electric eel, is a bony fish in the family Electrophoridae. It belongs to the order Gymnotiformes, suborder Pulseoidei and superfamily Gymnotoidea, within the class Teleostei. The species name Electrophorus electricus carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1766), and the IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Gymnotiformes
- family: Electrophoridae
- genus: Electrophorus
- species: *Electrophorus electricus* (Linnaeus, 1766)

Synonyms: *Gymnotus electricus*, *Gymnotus regius*, *Gymnotus tremulus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the electric eel?

The electric eel is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Electrophoridae in the order Gymnotiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the electric eel?

Its scientific name is Electrophorus electricus, in the genus Electrophorus.

### Is the electric eel endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses the electric eel globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

### Who named the electric eel and when?

The scientific name Electrophorus electricus is attributed to (Linnaeus, 1766).

### What other names does the electric eel have?

The electric eel is also called the common electric eel.

### What is the taxonomic classification of the electric eel?

It is in kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Teleostei, order Gymnotiformes, suborder Pulseoidei, superfamily Gymnotoidea, family Electrophoridae and genus Electrophorus.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/electrophorus-electricus