Electric Eel vs Mahi-mahi

Electrophorus electricus comparado com Coryphaena hippurus

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Electric Eel	Mahi-mahi
Nome Científico	Electrophorus electricus	Coryphaena hippurus
Ordem	Gymnotiformes	Carangiformes
Família	Gymnotidae	Coryphaenidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Electric Eel	Mahi-mahi
Comprimento Máximo	250,0 cm	210,0 cm
Peso Máximo	20,0 kg	40,0 kg
Cor	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.	Dazzling iridescent blue-green and gold flanks; males have a blunt squared-off head; flanks flicker golden-yellow to electric blue when alive, fading to dull gray-green at death.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Electric Eel	Mahi-mahi
Tipo de Água	Freshwater	Saltwater
Faixa de Profundidade	—	0-85m
Distribuição Geográfica	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 …	Worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceanic waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Highly pelagic; gathers around floating sargassum mats, current lines, and thermocline …
Habitat	Estuaries	Neritic, pelagic, coral reefs

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Electric Eel	Mahi-mahi
Peixe Esportivo	Não	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	—	7/10
Recorde Mundial	—	—
Nível de Mercúrio	—	—

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.

Mahi-mahi

Firm, slightly sweet flesh with large, moist flakes and low fat. Excellent grilled, blackened Cajun-style, or in tacos; one of the most popular sport fish for the table.

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.

Mahi-mahi

The mahi-mahi, also known as dorado or dolphinfish, is among the most colorful pelagic fish in the ocean. Its iridescent blue, green, and gold body fades rapidly after death. It is a fast-growing species, rarely living beyond five years.