Can Eels Deliver Electric Shocks?

Fun Fact

• The electric "eel" is so unique that it is usually classified in its own family as Electrophorus Electricus. A thick layer of slimy skin protects electric eels from their own electric current. Transmitted quickly via the water, powerful electric charges stun prey, yet leave the eel's own organs unscathed.

Function

• Comprising most of the length of its body, the false eel's electricity-producing organ is its tail. The head and tail act like the poles of a battery, with voltage flowing between. Discharging electricity serves four functions. Using low-intensity electrical pulses to navigate muddy waters where vision is reduced, electric eels also communicate this way. Using high-intensity charges (around 500 volts), they stun prey and defend themselves.

Effects

• Discharging different amounts of electricity, depending on the size of fish, large electric eels (over 1 meter) can discharge up to 650 volts. Stunning even horses and humans, shocks from electric eels disable muscle function, resulting in cardiac and respiratory failure.