Electric Eel vs Red Drum
Electrophorus electricus compared with Sciaenops ocellatus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Electrophorus electricus | Sciaenops ocellatus |
| Order | Gymnotiformes | Perciformes |
| Family | Gymnotidae | Sciaenidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 250.0 cm | 155.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 20.0 kg | 45.0 kg |
| Color | Dark olive-gray to grayish-brown cylinder-shaped body with a pale yellowish-orange throat and chin; back uniformly dark; scaleless skin has a smooth appearance; long ribbon-like anal fin is pinkish. | Coppery-bronze to reddish-orange flanks with a characteristic black eyespot at the upper tail base; back is darker bronze-olive; belly pale to silvery; fins match body tone with dusky margins. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater | Freshwater & Saltwater |
| Depth Range | — | 10-?m |
| Geographic Range | Native to the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. Inhabits murky, oxygen-depleted floodplain pools, swamps, and slow-moving streams in lowland … | Western North Atlantic from Massachusetts south through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Adults favor open nearshore reefs and coastal surf zones while juveniles inhabit … |
| Habitat | Estuaries | Estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | No | Yes |
| Fight Rating | — | 7/10 |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
Electric Eel
Not consumed — an ornamental and scientific novelty species kept in specialized aquarium exhibits; edible in principle but extremely dangerous to handle due to powerful electric discharge.
Red Drum
Firm, white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor and moderate fat; smaller fish (under 27 inches) are the best table size. Famous as 'blackened redfish' — a Louisiana Cajun culinary classic.
Species Overview
Electric Eel
Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but a knifefish. It can generate electrical discharges of up to 860 volts to stun prey and defend itself. About 80% of its body is dedicated to three electric organs.
Red Drum
The red drum, or redfish, is an iconic inshore game fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Identified by the distinctive black spot at the base of its tail, it feeds by tipping head-down in shallow water, exposing its copper-colored tail.