Though commonly referred to as an eel, this fish is not considered a “true” eel. While true eels are classified in the order Anguilliformes, the electric eel is actually in the order Gymnotiformes, the knife fishes.

Why are electric eels not eels?

Despite its name, the electric eel is a knifefish, not an eel. ... When the electric eel senses prey or feels threatened by a predator, electrocytes create an electrical current that can release up to 600 volts (if you are unlucky enough to be shocked by 600 volts, it won't kill you on its own, but it will hurt).

Can an electric eel hurt you?

It's rare to find documented cases that report deaths from an eel's shock, but it can happen. An adult eel can produce a lethal 600 volts of electrical energy, which is enough to kill you or, if you live, leave you incapacitated for years.