The alphoraz is found in some medieval encyclopedias. It is not born, but instead is generated spontaneously from rotting mud when the lake it lives in has no water. It starts as a worm, but grows into a fish when the lake water rises. It does not live long, soon decaying in the water.

Thomas of Cantimpré's description of the alphoraz closely matches Aristotle's description (Book 6, chapter 15.1-2) of the eel.