Electric eels, found in South America’s Amazon and Orinoco basins, are known for their powerful electrical discharges. Despite their common name, electric eels are a type of knifefish, more closely related to carp and catfish than to true eels.
How Electric Eels Generate Power
Electric eels produce electricity using specialized organs that can comprise up to 80 percent of their body. These organs contain thousands of modified muscle cells called electrocytes, which function much like biological batteries. Each electrocyte generates a small electrical charge by controlling the flow of ions, such as sodium and potassium, across its cell membrane.
These disc-like electrocytes are arranged in long columns, stacked in series, allowing their individual charges to combine and create a much larger voltage. When the eel’s nervous system sends a signal, these cells discharge simultaneously, releasing a burst of electricity. The electric organs—the main organ, Hunter’s organ, and Sachs’ organ—work in concert to produce these controlled electrical impulses.
The Shocking Truth About Their Voltage
Electric eels can generate significant voltage, with the exact amount varying by species and individual size. Some species, like Electrophorus electricus, produce up to 600 volts, while Electrophorus voltai can reach 860 volts. This high voltage is accompanied by a current typically ranging from 1 to 2 amperes. These powerful discharges are brief, lasting milliseconds, and can occur in rapid bursts.
Eels utilize different types of electrical discharges for various purposes. Stronger, high-voltage pulses from the main and Hunter’s organs are employed for hunting and defense. In contrast, weaker, low-voltage pulses, around 10 volts and generated by the Sachs’ organ, are used for navigation and communication. The danger of an electric eel’s shock stems from both its voltage and accompanying current.
Why Eels Use Electricity
Electric eels use their electrical abilities for several functions in their environment. One primary use is for hunting prey. They emit powerful, high-voltage shocks to stun or kill fish and other small aquatic animals, making them easier to capture and swallow. In murky waters where visibility is limited, eels also use weaker electrical pulses to navigate and locate objects or hidden prey through electro-location.
Electricity also serves as a self-defense mechanism. When threatened by predators, electric eels unleash strong shocks to deter attackers. They are known to leap out of the water to directly electrify a threat, concentrating the electrical impact. Low-voltage electrical signals also facilitate communication among eels, conveying information about their presence, sex, and receptivity, especially during breeding seasons.
Are Electric Eels Dangerous to Humans?
While an electric eel’s shock is rarely lethal to a healthy adult human from a single jolt, it can be painful and disorienting. The shock can cause severe muscle contractions, temporary paralysis, and a numbing sensation. If a person is in the water when shocked, the incapacitation can lead to drowning, even in shallow conditions.
Multiple shocks or prolonged exposure to an eel’s discharge can pose a more significant danger. Continuous electrical activity can potentially lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest, particularly for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid direct contact with electric eels and their habitats.