Anguila eléctrica
Electrophorus electricus
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<fishfyi-fish slug="electric-eel"></fishfyi-fish>Overview
Not a true eel but a giant knifefish, the electric eel can discharge up to about 860 volts to stun prey and deter threats. Roughly four-fifths of its cylindrical, scaleless body is given over to three specialised electric organs, with a pale orange throat marking the front. It inhabits murky, oxygen-poor floodplain pools, swamps, and slow streams of the Orinoco and Amazon basins in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. Reaching 2.5 metres, it must surface to breathe air, gulping oxygen through its vascularised mouth. Handled only with great caution because of its powerful shocks, it is kept in specialised exhibits and assessed as Least Concern.
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Acerca de
A pesar de su nombre, la anguila eléctrica no es una anguila verdadera sino un pez cuchillo. Puede generar descargas eléctricas de hasta 860 voltios para aturdir a sus presas y defenderse. Cerca del 80% de su cuerpo está dedicado a tres órganos eléctricos.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Length | 250,0 cm |
| Maximum Weight | 20,0 kg |
Coloration
Cuerpo cilíndrico de un gris oliva oscuro a marrón grisáceo con la garganta y el mentón de un naranja amarillento pálido; el dorso es uniformemente oscuro; la piel, sin escamas, tiene un aspecto liso; la larga aleta anal en forma de cinta es rosácea.
Habitat & Distribution
Estuarios
Distribución Geográfica
Nativa de las cuencas de los ríos Orinoco y Amazonas en Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam y Brasil. Habita pozas turbias y pobres en oxígeno de llanuras aluviales, pantanos y arroyos de corriente lenta en la selva tropical de tierras bajas.
Conservation Status
Anguila eléctrica is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Comestibilidad y Gastronomía
Taxonomy
| Orden | Gymnotiformes (Electric knifefishes) |
| Familia | Gymnotidae (Electric eels) |
| Especies | Electrophorus electricus |
Names in Other Languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Spanish | Anguila eléctrica |
Preguntas Frecuentes
Can you eat Anguila eléctrica?
How big does Anguila eléctrica get?
Where is Anguila eléctrica found?
Is Anguila eléctrica endangered?
What family does Anguila eléctrica belong to?
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