The narrator discusses the unique survival mechanism of the electric eel, a creature that can spontaneously generate high voltage pulses of electricity. Electric eels, also known as Electrophorus electricus, are part of the gymnodont family of knife fish and are closely related to catfish or carp rather than eels. They are known to live in the northeast of South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.
Electric eels use their shocking abilities to stun and kill their diet, which includes fish, shrimp, amphibians, and sometimes even small mammals. The eels have three pairs of specialized organs throughout their abdomen, each containing hundreds of thousands of modified muscle cells called electrocytes. These organs allow the eels to build up a current of charged ions and emit a steady stream of weak electric pulses to create a field around themselves for communication and active electrolocation.
The eels use these voltage attacks to take down prey or defend themselves from predators. They emit two or three strong pulses as much as 860 volts, which act like a taser, hijacking the animal's nervous system and causing it to violently twitch. This sudden movement generates waves that reveal the animal's hiding place. Once the prey is immobilized, the electric eel can swallow its meal whole.
The eels are also known for leaping out of the water and pressing their chin against a target for an even more intense shock. This is because when they leap out of the water and press their chin against the target, the electrical current is forced to travel through the body of the target to reach the negative pole, resulting in an even bigger shock.
As for the threat to humans, while there have been reports of people drowning in shallow water after being shocked by an electric eel, no one has officially been declared as being killed by an electric eel. However, considering the eels' hunting tactics, it's advisable to stay out of the water.
1. Electric eels, also known as Electrophorus electricus, are a type of fish that can generate high voltage pulses of electricity. They are part of the Gymnophysi's family of knife fish, more closely related to catfish or carp than a traditional eel.
2. Electric eels are known for their defense mechanism, which involves spontaneously generating high voltage pulses of electricity. This shock can stun and kill their prey, which consists of fish, shrimp, amphibians, and sometimes even small mammals.
3. Electric eels have been found to grow up to eight feet long and weigh as much as 44 pounds. They can be found throughout the northeast of South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.
4. Electric eels have a unique way of hunting their prey. They emit two or three strong pulses as much as 860 volts, which act like a taser, hijacking the animal's nervous system and causing the prey to violently twitch in the water. This sudden movement generates waves that reveal the animal's hiding place.
5. Electric eels also have the ability to leap out of the water, press their chin on a target, and deliver an even more intense shock. This is due to the unique electrical current flowing through their bodies, which is forced to travel through the body of the target to reach the negative pole.
6. Despite the shocks being mildly unpleasant in a laboratory setting, there are reports of people in South America drowning in shallow water after being shocked by an electric eel. However, to date, no one has officially been declared as being killed by an electric eel.
7. Electric eels can also form large packs to deliver a supercharged volt of energy to attack and disable their prey. Up to 100 eels can form a massive prey ball, circling their prey and repeatedly shocking them with insanely massive amounts of energy.
8. Due to their unique hunting methods and the power of their electric shocks, electric eels are often referred to as the "taser of the Amazon."