Electric Eels

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

• In a recent study, it was found that electric eels can release enough electricity to genetically modify small fish larvae

All about Electric Eels

• The Electric Eels are a genus, Electrophorus, of neotropical freshwater fish from South America in the family Gymnotidae.
• They are known for their ability to stun their prey by generating electricity, delivering shocks at up to 860 volts.
• Their electrical capabilities were first studied in 1775, contributing to the invention in 1800 of the electric battery.
• Electric eels can grow up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length.
• Despite their appearance, electric eels aren’t eels at all. They are more closely related to carp and catfish.
• In 2019, electric eels were split into three species: for more than two centuries before that, the genus was believed to be monotypic, containing only Electrophorus electricus.
• They are nocturnal, obligate air-breathing animals.
• Electric eels are nocturnal, live in muddy, dark waters, and have poor eyesight. So instead of using eyes, electric eels emit a weak electric signal, which they use like radar to navigate, to find a mate, and to find prey. Once prey is found, electric eels will use a much stronger shock to stun prey, usually smaller fish.
• Electric eels grow for as long as they live, adding more vertebrae to their spinal column.
• Males are larger than females. Some captive specimens have lived for over 20 years.
• The three species have largely non-overlapping distributions in the northern part of South America.