An
electric fish is any
fish that can generate
electric fields. A fish that can generate electric fields is said to be
electrogenic while a fish that has the ability to detect electric fields is said to be
electroreceptive. Most electrogenic fish are also electroreceptive. Electric fish species can be found both in the ocean and in freshwater rivers of South America (
Gymnotiformes) and Africa (
Mormyridae). Many fish such as
sharks,
rays and
catfishes can detect electric fields and are thus electroreceptive, but they are not classified as electric fish because they cannot generate electricity. Most common bony fish (
teleosts), including most fish kept in
aquaria or caught for food, are neither electrogenic nor electroreceptive.