01/19/2026
Electric eels are capable of generating extremely powerful electrical discharges to hunt, defend themselves, and navigate their environment. Their specialized electric organs can produce shocks ranging from about 600 to 860 volts, far stronger than most biological electrical signals. These discharges are created by thousands of electrocytes firing simultaneously, acting like tiny batteries stacked together. The shock can stun prey instantly or deter large predators with a single burst. Despite their name, electric eels are actually a type of knifefish rather than true eels.