Electric Eel vs Summer Flounder
Electrophorus electricus compared with Paralichthys dentatus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Electrophorus electricus | Paralichthys dentatus |
| Order | Gymnotiformes | Pleuronectiformes |
| Family | Gymnotidae | Paralichthyidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 250.0 cm | 94.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 20.0 kg | 12.0 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. | Eyed side is brownish to gray-green with a mottled pattern of pale blotches; 12–14 distinct pale-edged dark ocelli (eyespots) scattered across the body; blind side is plain white; color changes with substrate. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater | Saltwater |
| Depth Range | — | 10-183m |
| 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 Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Undertakes seasonal offshore migration to deeper Continental Shelf waters in … |
| Habitat | Estuaries | Neritic, demersal, estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Electric Eel | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | No | Yes |
| Fight Rating | — | 4/10 |
| 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.
Summer Flounder
Thin, delicate white fillets with a sweet, mild flavor and very low fat. Prized on the U.S. East Coast; superb pan-fried in butter, stuffed and baked, or prepared as ceviche.
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.
Summer Flounder
The summer flounder, or fluke, is a flatfish that lies camouflaged on the ocean floor. Born with eyes on both sides, one eye migrates to the left side during development. An ambush predator, it explodes upward to grab passing prey.