Molly Ayala
Electric eels are fascinating creatures that have captivated explorers, scientists, and locals alike for centuries. They are not true eels but are members of the knifefish family, closely related to catfish and carp. With the ability to generate powerful electric shocks, they are apex predators in the Amazonian ecosystem. But what eats these formidable creatures? During the dry season, when water levels drop and large groups of fish become isolated in small pools and streams, electric eels face a higher risk of predation by large mammals hunting from outside the water. Indigenous people in Guyana have also reported seeing shoals of fish jumping out of the water near large groups of electric eels, possibly indicating a form of social predation. While the specific predators of electric eels remain elusive, their presence undoubtedly shapes the dynamic river ecosystem of the Amazon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Predators | Large mammals, piranhas |
| Habitat | Quiet, slow-moving waters of oxbow lakes, streams, pools, and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers |
| Diet | Fish, crustaceans, insects, small vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, and mammals), invertebrates |
| Hunting Strategy | Use electricity to stun prey, hunt in packs |
| Electric Organs | Main electrical organ, Hunter's organ, Sachs' organ |
| Electric Discharge | Up to 860 volts |
| Appearance | Snake-like body, thick, dark grey skin, scaleless, yellow-orange underside |
| Behavior | Nocturnal, air-breathing, poor vision, use electrolocation |
| Reproduction | During the dry season (September to December), male-female pairs reproduce in small pools |
| Conservation Status | At risk from human destruction of the Amazon, including deforestation, logging, and fires |
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What You'll Learn
The diet of electric eels
Electric eels are apex predators and generalist carnivores, meaning they have a varied diet. They mostly eat fish, crustaceans, insects, and small vertebrates, such as amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They have also been known to eat their own unhatched eggs.
Electric eels use their electric shocks to hunt, stunning their prey before devouring it. They can emit up to 860 volts of electricity, which is enough to kill a person. In the dark and murky waters they inhabit, prey can be difficult to spot, so they have motion-sensitive hairs along their bodies that detect any slight pressure change in the surrounding water. When they suspect prey is nearby, they emit two rapid electric pulses, called a doublet, which causes the prey to twitch and reveal their position. They then release a high-voltage barrage of pulses, paralysing their prey.
The three species of electric eels have distinct habitats and diets. E. electricus lives in the Guiana Shield region, E. voltai in the Brazilian Shield in the highlands further south, and E. varii in the slow-flowing lowland waters of the Amazon basin. E. voltai has been recorded to eat the armoured catfish Megalechis thoracata, and caecilians (legless amphibians). E. electricus and E. voltai, the two upland species, appear to make less use of parental care, and so their young may be more vulnerable to predation.
The diet of the electric eel plays an important role in the Amazon ecosystem, keeping certain populations in check and ensuring balance.
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Predators of the electric eel
Electric eels are apex predators and are not often preyed upon due to their powerful electric shocks, which can be used as a defence mechanism. However, they do face a greater risk of predation from large mammals during the dry season when they inhabit shallow waters with little space to retreat.
In 1800, the explorer Alexander von Humboldt observed a group of indigenous people fishing for electric eels with horses. The pounding of the horses' hooves drove the eels out of the mud, and they responded by attacking and shocking the horses. Two horses were stunned by the shocks and drowned. The indigenous people did not eat the electric organs of the eels, and they feared the fish so much that they would not fish for them in the usual way.
Despite their name, electric eels are not true eels but knifefish, and they are more closely related to catfish and carp. They are distributed across northern South America, spanning Brazil, the Guianas, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. They inhabit the quiet, slow-moving waters of oxbow lakes, streams, pools, and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.
Electric eels can grow up to 6 feet long and have sleek, snakelike bodies and thick, dark grey skin that helps them blend into their surroundings. They are nocturnal and have poor vision, but they use electrolocation to navigate and hunt. They can generate electric shocks of up to 860 volts, which is enough to stun and kill a human. In addition to hunting, they use low-voltage pulses to communicate and navigate through electrolocation.
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Hunting in packs
Electric eels are apex predators that use their electric shocks to hunt and defend themselves. They are not true eels but knifefish, and they are closely related to catfish and carp. They are found in the quiet, slow-moving waters of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, as well as their tributaries and streams. They prefer the side channels but also live further inland. They inhabit the lowland regions of the Amazon basin, as well as the upland waters of the Guiana Shield and the Brazilian Shield.
Electric eels are mostly nocturnal and have poor vision. They use their electric shocks to stun their prey, with the ability to generate up to 860 volts of electricity, which is enough to kill a person. They have three specialized electric organs—the main electrical organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sachs' organ—that make up about 80% of their bodies. These organs help them to generate electricity and use it for hunting, communication, and navigation.
In 2012, a biologist named Douglas Bastos observed a group of electric eels hunting together in northern Brazil. This was the first time such behavior had been seen in electric fishes, and it has only been recorded during the low-water season, which runs from June to November. The eels rested at the bottom of the river during the day and moved to a shallow pool at the riverbank at dawn and dusk. They herded shoals of small tetra fishes and launched joint shock attacks, immobilizing and devouring their prey. Each hunt usually took 2 hours and involved up to seven attacks.
The eels that Bastos observed were identified as Electrophorus voltai, one of the two new species of electric eel discovered in the Amazon in 2019. E. voltai is the southern species, found in the Brazilian Shield, while the other newly discovered species, E. varii, inhabits the lowland Amazon basin. The third species, E. electricus, lives in the Guiana Shield region.
The discovery of pack hunting behavior in electric eels has sparked interest in further research on the evolution of social predation in fishes. Scientists are also concerned about the rapid destruction of the Amazon habitat due to human activities, which could wipe out these unique ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.
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How electric eels produce electricity
Electric eels are not actually true eels but are members of the knifefish order Gymnotiformes, which also includes catfish and carp. They are native to the quiet, slow-moving waters of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers in northern South America.
Electric eels have three specialised organs that help them create electricity: the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sachs' organ. Together, these organs make up about 80% of the eel's body and allow the eel to produce electric impulses of different strengths for various functions. The main organ and part of the Hunter's organ produce strong electric shocks that can ward off predators or stun prey. The Sachs' organ and the other half of the Hunter's organ produce weak electric impulses that help the eels navigate, seek out prey, and signal one another for courtship during the breeding season.
The electric eel's ability to produce electricity inspired the creation of the first battery. However, it is not feasible to use electric eels as a source of renewable energy, as they do not discharge high-power electricity continuously and it takes them a long time to recharge.
The electric eel's body functions similarly to a series of batteries, with each activated cell "shocking" its inactive neighbour into action, creating a short-lived current flowing along the eel's body. This current is diminished by the water, which provides additional outlets for the current, allowing the eel to generate a larger voltage.
The severity of an electric shock depends on the amount and duration of the current flowing through a given area of the body. This is why electric eels can shock their prey without shocking themselves—the small prey receives a much larger portion of the total current generated by the eel, proportional to its smaller body size.
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The cultural significance of electric eels
Electric eels have long been a source of fascination for explorers, scientists, and locals alike. With their ability to produce powerful electric shocks, they are often viewed as nature's electricians, illuminating the underwater realms of the Amazon. This unique capability has shaped the river ecosystem and influenced the behaviour of other species, making them a symbol of the dynamic and intricate Amazonian environment.
The electric eel's ability to generate shocks of up to 600-860 volts has practical implications as well. In the 1800s, the study of their electrical capabilities contributed to the invention of the electric battery by Alessandro Volta. Even today, researchers continue to explore the potential of using electric eel tissue to create powerful, flexible batteries for various applications, including implantable medical devices. The electric eel serves as an inspiration for biomimicry, where solutions to human challenges are derived from nature.
Additionally, electric eels play a crucial role in maintaining the balance within the Amazonian food chain. As apex predators, their predation on smaller fish and invertebrates helps keep populations in check. Furthermore, their presence influences the behaviour of other species, as fish have learned to sense their electrical fields and steer clear of potential danger. This contributes to the overall equilibrium of the ecosystem.
The unique characteristics of electric eels have also shaped cultural perceptions and beliefs. Their elongated, snake-like bodies and ability to deliver powerful shocks have likely contributed to their portrayal in folklore and mythology. They may be associated with power, mystery, and even danger, reflecting the awe and respect they inspire in local communities.
Overall, the cultural significance of electric eels in the Amazon is multifaceted. They are a source of scientific wonder, ecological balance, and cultural symbolism, all while continuing to captivate and intrigue those who dare to explore the depths of the Amazonian waters.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric eels are knifefish that are closely related to catfish and carp. They are native to the Amazon and are known for their ability to produce powerful electric shocks, which they use for hunting and self-defence. They have elongated, snake-like bodies and thick, dark grey skin.
Electric eels are apex predators and are capable of generating powerful electric shocks to hunt and defend themselves. However, during the dry season, they are at greater risk from large mammals that hunt from outside the shallow waters they inhabit.
Electric eels have motion-sensitive hairs along their bodies that detect changes in the surrounding water. When they sense prey, they emit rapid electric pulses called doublets, which immobilize their prey. They also hunt in packs, herding shoals of fish and launching joint shock attacks.
