Electric Eel
Probably the most well-known electric fish is the electric eel. Despite the name, it is a kind of knifefish, not an eel. These fish use their ability to produce electricity—up to 860 volts—to stun prey and protect themselves from attackers.
Black Ghost Knifefish
This South American nocturnal fish uses its ability to create mild electric fields to help it navigate and find food in the dark. With a long, thin body, the black ghost knifefish can reach a maximum length of 20 inches.
Elephant Nose Fish
The enormous, trunk-like lower jaw of the native West and Central African elephant nose fish gives rise to the species name. This fish uses tiny electrical pulses to travel, communicate, and find food in dark waters.
Electric Catfish
The electric catfish, which can produce up to 350 volts of electricity, is found in the Nile River and other parts of Africa. This fish stuns prey and wards off predators with its electrical skills.
Banded knifefish
This fish from South America can create weak electrical fields for communication and navigation. The banded knifefish may reach a maximum length of 4 feet and feature a long, blade-like body.
Electric Ray
This fish, also called the Pacific electric ray, has the ability to produce electricity up to 45 volts. Electric rays defend themselves and stun targets with their electrical powers.
Stargazer
The stargazer is an electric creature that can produce up to 50 volts of power. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. This bottom-dwelling fish defends itself and shocks victims with its electrical skills.
Peters' Elephantnose Fish
Peters' elephant nose fish may produce weak electrical pulses for communication and navigation, just like the elephant nose fish. The Congo River Basin in Central Africa is home to this fish.
Electric Knifefish
The electric knifefish, which is native to South America, can create weak electrical fields for communication and navigation. This fish can reach a maximum length of 16 inches and has a long, ribbon-like body.
Nile Mormyrid
The Nile Mormyrid, which can produce mild electrical pulses for communication and navigation, is a species that can be found throughout Africa and along the Nile River. This fish may reach a length of 4 feet and has a long, eel-like body.
Frankenstein's Catfish
Frankenstein's catfish, so named after the well-known fictitious character, has an electrical output of up to 350 volts. This fish, which can shock prey with its electrical skills, is found in the rivers of Western Africa.
Electric Whiptail
The electric whiptail catfish, a native of South America, can produce weak electrical fields for communication and navigation. This fish can reach a maximum length of three feet and has a long, whip-like tail.
In the depths of the world's rivers and oceans, the ability to generate electricity is a fascinating adaptation that has evolved in various fish species. From the well-known electric eel to the lesser-known Frankenstein's catfish, each of these remarkable creatures has developed unique ways to harness this power for survival, whether it’s for hunting, defense, or communication. These twelve fish remind us that nature is full of surprises, and the mysteries of the underwater world are as electrifying as they are diverse.