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Flooded forest (iagapó) upper Rio Negro_Brazil 2022 by David de Santana.jpg

Rio Negro. Photo by C. David de Santana

David de Santana_2.jpg

C. David
de Santana PhD
Researcher
Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

Biosketch

I am an evolutionary ichthyologist exploring how rivers shape life across the Amazon and other tropical basins. Through expeditions, museum collections, genomics, and emerging technologies, I work to accelerate the discovery of freshwater biodiversity. I lead initiatives in capacity building, museum innovation, outreach, and community-engaged science—empowering Amazonian institutions, strengthening museum–community connections, and training the next generation of researchers. I also have extensive experience establishing international partnerships and advancing scientific diplomacy between institutions, ensuring that knowledge, technology, and opportunities flow equitably across regions.

Featured papers, expeditions, media coverages & SciComm

Out of Africa!

Out of Africa!

2024 - A New Species of Banded Nannocharax from the Luapula River Basin, Zambia

The Bento Lab

The Bento Lab

2024 - Partnership to accelerate species identification & discovery

AI - Fish identification

AI - Fish identification

2024 - Smithsonian Magazine

French Guiana

French Guiana

2024 - Expedition

Rio Negro - Brazil

Rio Negro - Brazil

2024 - Expedition

Vermont Public - NPR

Vermont Public - NPR

2023 - But why? A podcast for curious kids. Episode: What are eels?

Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution

2023 - Robillard et al. Deep learning image classifier for identification of Amazonian fishes

Book chapters

Book chapters

2023 - Lasso et al. Peces del fundo - río Orinoco

Tapajós Expedition

Tapajós Expedition

2023 - Bottom trawling the Tapajós River, Brazil

Museum für Naturkunde

Museum für Naturkunde

2022 - Electric eel project

Upper Rio Negro Expedition

Upper Rio Negro Expedition

2022 - Working with Baré people on fishes of the upper Rio Negro

Systematics and Biodiversity

Systematics and Biodiversity

2022 - Systematics of Tembeassu

Podcast - Que bicho é esse?

Podcast - Que bicho é esse?

2022 - Poraquês

Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian Magazine

2021 - Hunting behavior in eels among 10 most popular scientific discoveries!

Podcast - 37 Graus

Podcast - 37 Graus

2021 - Viagem pela selva elétrica

Icht & herp

Icht & herp

2021 - Apteronotus albertoi - a rare and critically endangered Species from the Amazon basin

Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports

2021 - 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 Research

Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research

Morphology-based phylogeny of Glass Knifefishes

Revista Galileu

Revista Galileu

2021 - Técnica possibilita estudar peixes da Amazônia sem capturar animais

BBC News

BBC News

2021 - Electric eels work together to zap prey

Citizen Science initiative!

Citizen Science initiative!

2021 - Project Poraquê Science made with the help of the community

Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian Magazine

2021 - Shocking Study Finds Electric Eels Hunt Together

CNN

CNN

2021 - 'Extraordinary' research finds electric eels hunt in packs

Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution

2021 - Social predation in electric eels Ecology & Evolution 10th Anniversary editors' choice!

The New York Times

The New York Times

2021 - Electric eels hunt in packs, shocking prey and scientists

Nat Geo Magazine

Nat Geo Magazine

2020 - Shocking Behavior by Diana Marques

A Moment of Science

A Moment of Science

2020 - Listen "The origin of the electric eel's electricity" by Sara Loy

Nature Communications

Nature Communications

2019 - Unexpected species diversity in electric eels with a description of the strongest living bioelectricity generator

The New York Times

The New York Times

2019 - New Electric Eel Is Most Shocking Yet by Emma Goldberg

Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian Magazine

2019 - Electric eels in top 10 most popular discoveries!

Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian Magazine

2019 - Fish Detective Solves a Shocking Case of Mistaken Identity

A Moment of Science

A Moment of Science

2019 - Listen "Scientists discover two new species of eel" by Sara Loy

Smithsonian Voices

Smithsonian Voices

2018 - Discovery and Danger: The Shocking Fishes of the Amazon's Final Frontier

Media 

Appearances

Research

 Highlights

In the media

New Video

New Video
New Video

New Video

00:59
Geobeats

Geobeats

01:17
Shocking Discovery! Electric Eels Hunt in Packs

Shocking Discovery! Electric Eels Hunt in Packs

01:36
Smithsonian Channel

Smithsonian Channel

01:49
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Scientific

 Expeditions

Human impacts on tropical aquatic systems are at their highest levels, making it urgent to conduct scientific expeditions that explore, survey, and document these environments before they disappear. By creating genomic, acoustic, and phenotypic AI-ready libraries in partnership with local communities, we can accelerate biodiversity discovery and build lasting resources for assessment and long-term monitoring.  

To view the pictures in greater detail, simply click on them!

The Next Big  Thing

What's next?

"It's Electric!"

Research and outreach program on electric fishes at Museum für Naturkunde! Stay tuned!

© 2025 by C. David de Santana PhD

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