Video Credit; Average Life

Imagine 860 volts and 1 ampere of current (860 watts) for two milliseconds (ms) shock going through your body. Such a shock is extremely unlikely to be deadly for an adult human, due to the very short duration of the discharge but it could be so much painful, this is what an electric eel is capable of producing in still waters with an average of 27.5 feet high!

The Electric Eel

Some animals produce electrical charges both as a defense mechanism and for hunting, one animal that comes to mind is Electrophorus Electricus (Electric Eel). The Eel is actually a fish, a close cousin of the Catfish which belongs to the "Neotropical Knife Fish". The Possess large electrical organs that serve as energy reserves which sting preys producing lethal shocks waves. Although there is much difference in when the eel shock to kill its food and shocking other animals hunting it, that is, the intensity of their electrical shocks discharges varies per action i.e the amount of discharge when been attacked is much greater than the ones used in hunting. This process is referred to as bioelectrogenesis.

WHAT IS BIOELECTROGENESIS

The process whereby living organisms generate electricity, and this is a sub-process under the science of "Electrophysiology". Only a few animals, both terrestrial and or aquatic possess this amazing ability. The electric eel tops the list of the most popular animals in this category along with its close relatives; The Black Ghost Knife Fish, Electric Catfish, The Electric Ray etc.

One thing that made these organisms (species of fishes and animals) unique is that they have an electric-like organ used to create such an electric field. Charles Darwin explains how this unique animal posses such a magical body part and I quote it below:

"But id the Electric Organs had been inherited from one ancient progenitor thus provided, we might have expected that all electric fishes would have been specially related to each other...I am inclined to believe that nearly the same way as two men have sometimes independently hit on the very same invention, so natural selection, working for the good of each being and taking advantage of analogous variations has sometimes modified in very nearly the same manner two parts in two organic beings- Charles Darwin from Origin Of Species"

HABITAT

Mostly found in salty waters (Sea and Ocean), but some species thrive in fresh and still waters, most Electric Eels population are found in the South American Waters of the Amazon and are mainly Carnivorous which could grow as long as 2.5 meters and weigh up to 20 Kg. With a complex Respiratory and Circulatory system, Electric Eels surfaces approximately every 10 Minutes to get air on the surface of the water. This fish lives solitary and their mode of reproduction is strangely unusual i.e the Males makes a nest with its saliva and the Female Eel lays her 15,000 plus eggs. With a lifespan between 15-22 years in Natural Habitat, the only threat or common enemies are Crocodiles, Alligators, Octopus Birds, and Humans.

With thick scales which serves as insulators to their own shocks, only a wounded Eel with a broken scale could Electrocute itself to death while discharging Electric Shocks to Predators. The only Greater threats are Birds of preys which Insulated Legs, Claws and Talons are not affected by the Eel.

A typical Eel doesn't see, they move and hunts with electrical pulses which function like Radars during navigations and hunting. Eels breath through their mouths and the whole of their body carries electrolyte cells(Like Batteries) while the upper parts(Just about 20% of the Body) contains the vital organs to sustain it's living.

THREATS/DANGERS

Electric eel has few animals that prey on it, mostly Birds of preys get away with hunting the Electric Eel. It could stun any other animals with their charges, ranging from Humans, Alligators, Crocs, Puma, Tiger, Larger fishes, Octopus etc, and this shocks could be to stupor or death in some Gators and Crocs cases. Furthermore, the instances of Electric Eels jumping out of the water and shocking fully grown animals (e.g a Horse) to death had been documented. No records of the eel shocking human to death yet, but this could be one of the most painful stings in existence, it could still kill an individual if stung in a river or in the Oceans which might result in death by drowning!

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Modified old article