Otis Singleton
Electric eels are not actually eels at all. They are neotropical freshwater fish from South America and are more closely related to carp and catfish. The name 'electric eel' comes from the eel-shaped body of the fish, which can grow to 9 feet (2.75 metres) in length and weigh almost 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms). Electric eels have three electric organs—the main electrical organ, the Hunter's organ, and Sachs' organ—that make up about 80% of their body. These organs allow them to produce electric impulses of different strengths, which are used for defence, hunting, communication, and navigation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name origin | "Electricity bearer" from the Greek ήλεκτρον (ḗlektron 'amber, a substance able to hold static electricity'), and φέρω (phérō 'I carry') |
| Family | Gymnotidae |
| Subfamily | Electrophorinae |
| Genus | Electrophorus |
| Species | E. electricus, E. voltai, E. varii |
| Type of fish | Neotropical freshwater |
| Diet | Carnivorous; fish, crustaceans, insects, small vertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals |
| Habitat | Northern South America; Amazon and Orinoco rivers, streams, pools, flooded forests, swamps, oxbow lakes |
| Behavior | Nocturnal, air-breathing, poor eyesight, electrolocation |
| Length | Up to 9 ft (2.75 m) |
| Weight | Up to 50 lbs (22.7 kg) |
| Electricity | Up to 860 volts, produced by electrocytes in three electric organs |
| Purpose of electricity | Defense, hunting, communication, navigation |
| Reproduction | Not affected by electricity |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Electric eels are not true eels
Electric eels are air-breathing animals, meaning they need to surface about every ten minutes to breathe. They have small eyes and poor vision, but they are capable of hearing via a Weberian apparatus, which consists of tiny bones connecting the inner ear to the swim bladder. Electric eels grow throughout their lives, adding more vertebrae to their spinal column. Males are larger than females, and some captive specimens have lived for over 20 years.
Electric eels are widely distributed across northern South America, including Brazil, the Guianas, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. They are nocturnal, obligate air-breathers, with poor vision complemented by electrolocation, and they mainly eat fish. Electric eels are top predators, with few other animals willing or able to take on these highly charged fish. They use their electricity to stun their prey, delivering shocks of up to 860 volts.
Electric eels have three electric organs that contain cells called electrocytes. When the electric eel senses prey or feels threatened, electrocytes create an electrical current that can release up to 600 volts. The electric organs create strong and weak electric charges, which are used for defence, hunting, communication, and navigation. The electric eel's vital organs are contained in just one-fifth of its body, directly behind its head.
Old Electric Trains: Valuable or Vintage Junk?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They are members of the knifefish family
Electric eels are members of the knifefish family. They are not closely related to true eels (Anguilliformes) but are part of the electroreceptive knifefish order Gymnotiformes. This order is more closely related to catfish and carp. Electric eels are also known as Electrophorus electricus, a name derived from the Greek words "ḗlektron" (amber, a substance that can hold static electricity) and "phérō" (I carry), thus giving the meaning "electricity bearer".
Electric eels are neotropical freshwater fish from South America and are the only members of the subfamily Electrophorinae. They inhabit the quiet, slow-moving waters of oxbow lakes, streams, pools, and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. They are obligate air-breathers, surfacing periodically to breathe, and have poor vision, relying on electrolocation to navigate and hunt.
Electric eels have three pairs of electric organs—the main organ, Hunter's organ, and Sachs' organ—which make up about 80% of their bodies. These organs enable them to generate two types of electric discharges: low voltage and high voltage. Low voltages are used for sensing the environment, while high voltages are used for stunning prey and detecting prey through electrolocation. The electric organs are made of electrocytes, modified from muscle cells, which create an electrical current of up to 600-860 volts.
Electric eels are generalist carnivores, feeding on fish, crustaceans, insects, and small vertebrates. They use their electric powers for hunting and defence. In addition, they have motion-sensitive hairs (the lateral line system) that aid in detecting prey. Electric eels can control their prey's nervous system and muscles with their electrical abilities, forcing their prey to move or immobilizing them.
Electric Sheep Dreaming of Space-Rock: A Cosmic Odyssey
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Electric eels can grow to over 2.5 metres in length
Electric eels are not actually eels at all, but rather a type of knifefish. They are more closely related to carp and catfish. The name "electric eel" comes from the eel-shaped body of the fish, which can grow to impressive lengths.
The electric eel's vital organs are contained in just one-fifth of its body, directly behind its head. The rest of the body contains the organs that generate electricity. These organs, known as the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sachs' organ, make up about 80% of the fish's body. They are responsible for the electric eel's ability to stun its prey, delivering shocks of up to 860 volts.
Electric eels are found in the freshwater of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of northern South America. They inhabit quiet, slow-moving waters such as pools, swamps, and oxbow lakes. They are air-breathing animals, surfacing for air every ten minutes or so. This adaptation allows them to survive in poorly oxygenated waters.
Electric eels are not particularly aggressive and will only attack if they feel threatened. They are top predators in their environment, with few other animals willing or able to take them on.
Tiny House Electrical: DIY or Hire a Pro?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They use electricity to hunt and defend themselves
Electric eels use electricity to hunt and defend themselves. They inhabit dark and murky waters where prey can be difficult to spot. To aid their hunt, they have motion-sensitive hairs along their bodies that detect any slight pressure changes in the surrounding water. When they suspect prey is nearby, they emit two rapid electric pulses, known as a doublet. This doublet affects the muscles of the prey, causing it to twitch involuntarily and alerting the electric eel to its presence. The eel then releases a series of high-voltage pulses (up to 400 per second) to paralyze and consume its prey.
Electric eels have three electric organs: the main electrical organ, the Hunter's organ, and Sachs' organ. These organs make up about 80% of the eel's body and allow them to produce electric impulses of varying strengths. The main organ and a portion of the Hunter's organ produce strong electric shocks that can ward off predators or stun prey. The remaining sections of the Hunter's organ and Sachs' organ generate weaker electric discharges.
Electric eels can emit shocks of up to 860 volts, although most sources place this figure at around 600 volts. These shocks are powerful enough to stun and kill prey, as well as deter predators. The water in their habitat efficiently conducts electricity, providing a wide surface area for the electric eel's shock to be applied. This means that an electric pulse delivered through the water may not be as painful for a large predator as one delivered outside of the water.
Electric eels are not particularly aggressive and will only attack when they feel threatened or cornered. They are top predators, with few other animals willing or able to confront them due to their highly charged nature. Electric eels are also able to use their electricity for communication and navigation, making them adept survivors in their environment.
The Most Vulnerable to Electrical Hazards
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$14.79 $18.99
They are native to the freshwater rivers of northern South America
Electric eels are native to the freshwater rivers of northern South America. They are found in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, inhabiting the quiet, slow-moving waters of oxbow lakes, streams, pools, swamps, and flooded forests. These waters are poorly oxygenated, but electric eels are adapted to thrive in this environment as obligate air-breathers. They surface periodically to breathe, with their mouths specially adapted to increase the surface area for air intake.
The species now defined as Electrophorus electricus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766, based on early field research by Europeans in South America, particularly the rivers of Suriname. In 1864, Theodore Gill moved the electric eel to its own genus, Electrophorus, derived from the Greek words "ḗlektron" (amber, a substance that can hold static electricity) and "phérō" (I carry), thus meaning "electricity bearer".
In 2019, scientists divided the genus into three distinct species: Electrophorus electricus, Electrophorus voltai, and Electrophorus varii. Electric eels are part of the neotropical freshwater fish family Gymnotidae and the subfamily Electrophorinae, of which they are the only members. They are not closely related to true eels (Anguilliformes) but are more closely related to carp and catfish, falling under the order Gymnotiformes or knifefishes.
Electric eels can grow to more than 8 feet in length and weigh up to 45-50 pounds. They are known for their ability to generate electricity, stunning their prey with shocks of up to 860 volts. They have three electric organs—the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sachs' organ—that make up about 80% of their body. These organs contain cells called electrocytes, which create an electrical current of varying strengths for functions like defence, hunting, communication, and navigation.
Mastering Gear Shifts on Your Electra Townie
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Electric eels are called electric eels because they can produce electricity inside their bodies.
Electric eels have three electric organs—the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sachs' organ—that make up about 80% of their body. These organs contain cells called electrocytes that create an electrical current of up to 600-860 volts.
Electric eels use their electricity for defense against predators, hunting prey, communication, and navigation in the murky waters they inhabit.
Electric eels are not particularly aggressive and it is very rare for them to kill humans. However, they can deliver shocks of up to 860 volts, which can be painful and potentially deadly.
Electric eels are found in the freshwater rivers and flooded forests of northern South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. They inhabit slow-moving, poorly oxygenated waters such as pools, swamps, and lakes.
