Electric eels are truly electric. Yes! They are able to produce an electric charge which they use to hunt as well as scare off predators. They are the only species in the genus Electrophorus able to produce electricity. Even though its name suggests it is an eel, it is actually a knifefish. While there are other fish that can produce electric fields for navigation and communication, the electric eel is the only one that can use it for defense and attack.