Real photoREAL PHOTO

Volta’s Electric Eel (Electrophorus voltai)
Specimen imageSPECIMEN IMAGE
Volta’s Electric Eel (Electrophorus voltai) specimen
← Back to catalog

Gymnotidae

Volta’s Electric Eel

Electrophorus voltai

Generates eight hundred sixty volts

  • Tropical
  • Southern Hemisphere
  • Regional distribution
  • Freshwater fish
  • South America
  • Elongated
  • Large
  • Tropical fish

Electrophorus voltai, or Volta's electric eel, is a species of electric eel found in South America. It is the strongest known bioelectricity generator in nature, producing up to 860 volts.

Maximum length
171 cm
Water
Freshwater
Body shape
elongated
Distribution
South America: generally in the north-flowing rivers of the Brazilian shield and south-flowing rivers of the Guyana shield. Occurs with Electrophorus varii in some streams in the Guiana Shield (Ref. 120918 ).
Conservation status
LCLeast Concern

Generating…