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C. David
de Santana PhD
Research Associate
National Museum of Natural History - NMNH
I am an evolutionary ichthyologist who studies freshwater fish diversity and evolution through scientific collections and fieldwork. I also participate in capacity building, public outreach, and minority representation. I am the principal investigator for the "Diversity and Evolution of Gymnotiformes" project at NMNH, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and FAPESP.
Upper Oyapock River. Photo by C. David de Santana
Featured papers, expeditions, media coverages & SciComm
 Out of Africa!2024 - A New Species of Banded Nannocharax from the Luapula River Basin, Zambia |  The Bento Lab2024 - Partnership to accelerate species identification & discovery |  AI - Fish identification2024 - Smithsonian Magazine |
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 French Guiana2024 - Expedition |  Rio Negro - Brazil2024 - Expedition |  Vermont Public - NPR2023 - But why? A podcast for curious kids. Episode: What are eels? |
 Ecology and Evolution2023 - Robillard et al. Deep learning image classifier for identification of Amazonian fishes |  Book chapters2023 - Lasso et al. Peces del fundo - río Orinoco |  Tapajós Expedition2023 - Bottom trawling the Tapajós River, Brazil |
 Museum für Naturkunde2022 - Electric eel project |  Upper Rio Negro Expedition2022 - Working with Baré people on fishes of the upper Rio Negro |  Systematics and Biodiversity2022 - Systematics of Tembeassu |
 Podcast - Que bicho é esse?2022 - Poraquês |  Smithsonian Magazine2021 - Hunting behavior in eels among 10 most popular scientific discoveries! |  Podcast - 37 Graus2021 - Viagem pela selva elétrica |
 Icht & herp2021 - Apteronotus albertoi - a rare and critically endangered Species from the Amazon basin |  Scientific Reports2021 - The critical role of natural history museums in advancing eDNA for biodiversity studies: a case study with Amazonian fishes |  Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchMorphology-based phylogeny of Glass Knifefishes |
 Revista Galileu2021 - Técnica possibilita estudar peixes da Amazônia sem capturar animais |  BBC News2021 - Electric eels work together to zap prey |  Citizen Science initiative!2021 - Project Poraquê Science made with the help of the community |
 Smithsonian Magazine2021 - Shocking Study Finds Electric Eels Hunt Together |  CNN2021 - 'Extraordinary' research finds electric eels hunt in packs |  Ecology and Evolution2021 - Social predation in electric eels Ecology & Evolution 10th Anniversary editors' choice! |
 The New York Times2021 - Electric eels hunt in packs, shocking prey and scientists |  Nat Geo Magazine2020 - Shocking Behavior by Diana Marques |  A Moment of Science2020 - Listen "The origin of the electric eel's electricity" by Sara Loy |
 Nature Communications2019 - Unexpected species diversity in electric eels with a description of the strongest living bioelectricity generator |  The New York Times2019 - New Electric Eel Is Most Shocking Yet by Emma Goldberg |  Smithsonian Magazine2019 - Electric eels in top 10 most popular discoveries! |
 Smithsonian Magazine2019 - Fish Detective Solves a Shocking Case of Mistaken Identity |  A Moment of Science2019 - Listen "Scientists discover two new species of eel" by Sara Loy |  Smithsonian Voices2018 - Discovery and Danger: The Shocking Fishes of the Amazon's Final Frontier |
Media
Appearances
Research
Highlights
In the media
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Geobeats
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Shocking Discovery! Electric Eels Hunt in Packs
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Smithsonian Channel
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Scientific
Expeditions
The impact of human activities on tropical aquatic systems is currently at its highest level. It is crucial to conduct scientific expeditions to explore, survey, and document these environments before they disappear. To achieve this, we will be conducting expeditions twice a year to poorly explored regions in Africa (beginning next year) and South America.
To view the pictures in greater detail, simply click on them!
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