Molly Ayala
Electric eels are known for their ability to generate electricity and stun their prey with shocks of up to 860 volts. Despite this, it is rare for people to be killed by electric eels. So, how do they avoid electrocution themselves? Firstly, they only discharge electricity intermittently, and it takes them a long time to recharge. Secondly, the current produced is only strong enough and long enough to stun small prey. The electric eel itself doesn't feel the shock because the current is so brief. Additionally, water is a good conductor of electricity, so the current is divided and diminished when the eel is in water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electric eels do not electrocute themselves | They are resistant to it, but they do shock themselves. |
| How they shock themselves | They generate an electric current so brief that they do not feel it. |
| How they do not electrocute other eels | They do not charge up in tight spaces. |
| How they do not electrocute their fry | The fry stay near or in the father's mouth. |
| How they do not electrocute their prey | The prey gets shocked by a large proportional current in their smaller bodies. |
| How they do not electrocute everything in the water | The voltage electric eels produce is not high enough to travel very far against the electrical resistance water has. |
| How they do not electrocute themselves | They flex their bodies in a shape that prevents the electric current from passing through their heart. |
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What You'll Learn
- Electric eels do shock themselves but are resistant to it
- They have a low risk of electrocution due to the placement of their vital organs
- The current they generate is brief and doesn't hurt them
- Water disperses the current, weakening it as it travels
- Sea water is a mediocre conductor, and the eel's voltage doesn't travel far
Electric eels do shock themselves but are resistant to it
Electric eels do shock themselves, but it is not a common occurrence. They have to be careful not to electrocute themselves, especially when several eels are squeezed together in a tight space. If one eel feels endangered and charges up, it can accidentally electrocute the other eels and itself. This is because the electric current can pass through their vital organs, which are located in a small region near their tails, and if the current passes through their hearts, it can kill them instantly.
However, electric eels are resistant to their own shocks. This is partly because the shock is distributed over their entire body and only lasts for a very brief period, so they don't get hurt. The electric eel itself does not feel the shock, but it is enough to stun small prey or startle predators. Additionally, water provides additional outlets for the current, so the current is divided and diminished.
The exact mechanism by which electric eels protect themselves from their own shocks is not yet fully understood. However, it is speculated that the conductive parts of their bodies exclude vital organs, reducing the risk of electrocution. Electric eels also receive ""feedback"" from their electrical discharges, which helps them survive.
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They have a low risk of electrocution due to the placement of their vital organs
Electric eels have a low risk of electrocution due to the strategic placement of their vital organs. The majority of their vital organs are packed in near the front of the animal, taking up only 20% of space and sequestered from the electric organs. This means that the electric current generated by the eel usually does not pass through its vital organs, reducing the risk of self-electrocution.
The electric eel's body functions similarly to a 500-volt battery, with its electric organs made up of thousands of disc-shaped, electricity-producing cells stacked in series. These cells are oriented like a series of batteries in a flashlight, allowing them to activate simultaneously and create a short-lived current along the eel's body. While the eel's electric organs can produce high-voltage discharges, the current is diminished as it passes through the water, reducing the risk of self-electrocution.
Additionally, electric eels have some control over the direction of their electric discharges. When charging up, they stiffen their bodies into a straight line, ensuring that the electric current runs parallel to their tails and behind their hearts. This body positioning prevents the current from passing through their vital organs, further reducing the risk of self-electrocution.
Despite these adaptations, electric eels do occasionally shock themselves, especially when in close proximity to other electric eels. In tight spaces, such as a draining pond, an electric eel that feels endangered and charges up can accidentally electrocute itself and its nearby companions. Therefore, while the placement of vital organs reduces the risk of self-electrocution, electric eels must still be cautious to avoid accidental electrocution in certain situations.
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The current they generate is brief and doesn't hurt them
Electric eels have evolved to produce a brief and targeted electric discharge that does not harm them or their immediate surroundings. This is made possible by their unique anatomy and the specialized cells in their body that generate electricity.
The electric organ, which makes up a large part of the eel's body, contains electrocytes, or electric cells, that are capable of storing and releasing electrical energy. These electrocytes are You may want to see also
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Electric eels do shock themselves, but they are resistant to it and do not feel the shock because of its short duration. The electric current can also pass through their body without entering their vital organs, which are located in a small region anterior to their tails. This reduces the danger to the eels themselves. Water disperses the electric current, weakening it as it travels. Although water conducts electricity, it does not amplify it. The current generated by the eel is divided as it spreads through the water, and the farther it goes, the weaker it gets. This is similar to what happens when a lightning strike hits the ground—the energy is dispersed outward from a central point until it is no longer strong enough to cause harm. The conductivity of water is not a binary concept; just because seawater is conductive does not mean it is a very good conductor. In fact, it is a mediocre conductor at best, and distilled water is barely conductive. The voltages produced by electric eels are not high enough to travel far against the electrical resistance of water. The electric eel's body position may also play a role in preventing self-electrocution. When they are charging up, they stiffen into a line segment, ensuring that the electric current runs parallel to their tail and behind their heart. This way, they avoid the fatal consequence of an electric current passing through their heart. You may want to see also Electric eels do shock themselves, but they are resistant to it and the shock is distributed over their entire body and is very brief, so they don't get hurt. The electric current can even pass through their vital organs and heart, which can kill them instantly, so they have to be careful. They reduce the danger to themselves by flexing their bodies in a way that prevents the electric current from passing through their heart. The electric eel's body can be compared to a series of batteries piled into a flashlight. The current generated by an activated cell "shocks" any inactive neighbour into action, creating a short-lived current along the eel's body. If the eel lived in air, the current could be as high as one ampere, turning the creature's body into the equivalent of a 500-volt battery. However, eels live in water, which provides additional outlets for the current. Thus, they generate a larger voltage but a divided and diminished current. The severity of an electric shock depends on the amount and duration of the current flowing through any given area of the body. The current received by small prey is only a small portion of the total current generated by the eel. However, the current discharged into their smaller bodies is much larger proportionally. For example, a prey item that is 10 times smaller in length than an eel is about 1,000 times smaller in volume. Therefore, the small animals close to the eel get shocked, rather than the eel itself. Water does conduct electricity, but it doesn't amplify it. The energy is dispersed through the water and the farther it goes, the weaker it gets. This is true even for lightning strikes, where fish can die in the immediate strike area, but the energy is quickly dispersed to a point where it is harmless to those outside of the strike area. Sea water is a mediocre conductor, and the eels' voltage doesn't travel far. The voltages electric eels produce are not high enough to travel very far against the electrical resistance water has. You may want to see also Electric eels do shock themselves, but they are resistant to it and the shock is brief, so they don't get hurt. They also reduce the danger to themselves by flexing their bodies in a way that prevents the electric current from passing through their heart. Electric eels can and do accidentally electrocute other eels, especially when they are in a tight space together. The voltage of electric eels is not high enough to travel very far through water, which provides additional outlets for the current. The current is also diminished as it spreads out through the water. The current discharged into the bodies of their prey is much larger proportionally. For example, a prey 10 times smaller in length than an eel is about 1,000 times smaller in volume. Therefore, the small animals close to the eel get shocked, rather than the discharging eel itself. Electric eels can survive on land for a few hours if their skin is wet enough. However, they would be more susceptible to hurting themselves out of water.Airplane Electrical Systems: The Vital Role of Batteries
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