Otis Singleton
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is home to five electric eels that live in the Amazon Rising habitat. The eels are technically fish and belong to the knifefish family. They can produce up to 800 volts of electricity, which could be fatal to humans. The eels at Shedd can emit electric pulses of just under 600 volts. The aquarium has probes in the water that sense the eels' electricity and transmit it to a lightbar and a speaker, allowing visitors to hear the low-voltage pulsing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the aquarium | Shedd Aquarium |
| Location | Chicago |
| Type | Indoor public aquarium |
| Size | 5 million US gallons |
| Number of animals | 32,000 |
| Number of exhibits | 132 |
| Number of electric eels | 5 |
| Electric eel species | Knifefish |
| Electric eel voltage | Up to 800 volts |
| Exhibit name | Amazon Rising |
| Exhibit size | 8,600 square feet |
| Number of species in the exhibit | 250 |
| Other species in the exhibit | Green anaconda, red-bellied piranhas, freshwater stingrays, dwarf caimans, etc. |
| Interactive features | Buttons to summon bubbles or rain |
| Power source | Lithium-ion battery |
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What You'll Learn
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago
The Shedd Aquarium has received recognition for its exhibits, such as "Seahorse Symphony," "Amazon Rising," and "Wild Reef." The Amazon Rising exhibit, in particular, spans 8,600 square feet and showcases 250 different species from the Amazon River and the surrounding jungle. This includes electric eels, which are a unique attraction at the aquarium.
The Shedd Aquarium is committed to conservation and education, providing interactive experiences for visitors to learn about the amazing adaptations of electric eels and other creatures. These hands-on activities are designed to spark curiosity and compassion for the diverse range of animals that call the aquarium home.
In recent years, the Shedd Aquarium has also focused on sustainability initiatives. As part of its green initiative, the aquarium installed a one-megawatt lithium-ion battery, the largest in any US aquarium or zoo. This initiative aims to reduce the aquarium's energy use by half and contribute to its goal of becoming "the nation's first clean-energy-powered cultural institution."
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$9.99
The eels' electricity is sensed by probes in the water
At the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, five eels live in the Amazon Rising habitat. The eels' electricity is sensed by probes in the water, which transmit the energy to a lightbar and a speaker. At any given time, visitors can hear low-voltage pulsing coming from the speakers. The probes in the water are an important tool for researchers to learn more about eels and how they employ their electricity.
The electric eel generates large electric currents through a highly specialized nervous system. This system has the capacity to synchronize the activity of disc-shaped, electricity-producing cells packed into a specialized electric organ. The nervous system does this through a command nucleus that decides when the electric organ will fire. When the command is given, a complex array of nerves makes sure that the thousands of cells activate at once, no matter how far they are from the command nucleus.
Each electrogenic cell carries a negative charge of a little less than 100 millivolts on its outside compared to its inside. When the command signal arrives, the nerve terminal releases a puff of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. This creates a transient path with low electrical resistance, connecting the inside and the outside of one side of the cell. The three remarkable organs that comprise almost 80% of their bodies are the main electrical organ, Hunter's organ, and Sachs' organ. These organs help them to generate electricity.
The eels use low-voltage pulses to communicate with one another or explore their environment through a process called electrolocation. They can also use electricity to locate their prey using electroreceptors derived from the lateral line organ in the head. The lateral line itself is mechanosensory, enabling them to sense water movements created by animals nearby.
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The eels' diet and hunting strategy
The electric eel's diet consists of a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and even small mammals. They are top predators, with few other animals willing or able to take on these highly charged fish.
In the wild, electric eels inhabit the quiet, slow-moving waters of oxbow lakes, streams, pools, and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. They prefer side channels but also live further inland. The water in these areas is poorly oxygenated, but electric eels are specially adapted to thrive in this environment as they are obligate air breathers, surfacing for air periodically. During the rainy season, the rivers swell, reconnecting lakes and ponds as the forests flood, and juvenile electric eels disperse and expand into new territories. As water recedes in the dry season, large groups of fish become isolated in the remaining pools and smaller streams. It is during this dry season that the electric eel is also at greater risk from predators such as large mammals that hunt from outside the shallow waters it inhabits.
Electric eels have a unique hunting strategy that involves the use of electricity to stun and locate their prey. They have three remarkable organs that comprise almost 80% of their bodies: the main electrical organ, Hunter's organ, and Sachs' organ. These organs help them generate electricity, with adult knifefish capable of producing up to 800 volts of electricity. This is strong enough to knock a person off their feet or cause fatal disruption to their heart rhythm.
When hunting, an electric eel will emit a quick, double electric pulse that causes potential prey to twitch, revealing their position. The eel will then release a barrage of high-voltage pulses, paralyzing its prey and allowing the eel to swallow it whole. The curling behaviour of the eel is significant as it enables the animal to double the voltage experienced by the prey, ensuring a successful hunt. This behaviour was discovered by neurobiologist Kenneth Catania, who found that contrary to previous beliefs, electric eels do not always stun their prey with a single jolt. Instead, they emit high-voltage pulses in volleys, causing immobilizing tetanus and allowing them to swallow their prey almost immediately.
In addition to their solo hunting tactics, electric eels have also been observed to hunt in packs. Dr. Bastos and researchers from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History witnessed electric eels corralling groups of tetra fish into tightly packed balls and then attacking them with synchronized electric attacks. This behaviour is rarely seen in freshwater fish and challenges the idea that electric eels are exclusively solitary predators.
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How to handle the eels
Electric eels at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago can emit electric pulses of just under 600 volts, which is enough to incapacitate or potentially kill a human. Therefore, it is essential to take several precautions when handling these creatures.
Firstly, it is crucial to ensure the eels are well-fed and content, as their electricity soars during feeding times due to excitement and activity. When the eels are satisfied, they are more likely to use their electrical impulses for navigation and communication, which are safer for handlers.
Secondly, it is advisable to wear insulated gloves when handling the eels, as they can deliver powerful electric shocks. These gloves will act as a protective barrier, reducing the risk of receiving a shock.
Additionally, it is important to monitor their electric output using probes connected to a lightbar and speaker system. This monitoring system will help handlers anticipate the eels' movements and adjust their handling techniques accordingly.
Furthermore, it is recommended to keep the eels in a group, as they are typically found in groups in the wild. This social setting can help reduce stress levels and aggressive behaviour among the eels, making them potentially safer to handle.
Lastly, it is essential to remain vigilant and aware of the eels' behaviour. Electric eels use high-voltage shocks for hunting and defence, so observing their body language and electric output can help handlers identify any potential risks and respond accordingly.
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The Amazon Rising exhibit
The Amazon Rising habitat houses five electric eels, which are technically large knifefish. These eels can produce up to 800 volts of electricity, which could knock a person off their feet or cause fatal heart rhythm disruption. The eels at the Shedd Aquarium can emit electric pulses just under 600 volts. The electricity they produce is sensed by probes in the water, which transmit the energy to a lightbar and a speaker. Visitors can hear the low-voltage pulsing coming from the speakers.
The Shedd Aquarium allows visitors to get up close with electric eels and learn about their astounding adaptations through hands-on interactives and programs. These experiences are designed to spark curiosity, compassion, and conservation for these creatures, the Amazon River, and its inhabitants. The eels' diet includes fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and even small mammals. They use electricity to hunt, emitting a quick double pulse to make their prey twitch and reveal their position before releasing a high-voltage barrage to paralyze and swallow their prey whole. They also use low-voltage pulses for communication and electrolocation to explore their environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are electric eels at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The aquarium has five eels in its Amazon Rising habitat, where visitors can hear the low-voltage pulses they emit.
The electric eels at Shedd Aquarium can produce up to 800 volts of electricity, which is strong enough to knock a person off their feet. The species of electric eels at Shedd can emit electric pulses of just under 600 volts.
The Shedd Aquarium takes great care in handling its electric eels. When the eels need medical attention, they are anesthetized and their electric output is monitored using probes connected to a lightbar and speaker. Staff members wear insulated gloves when handling the eels.
