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The electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, is a species of fish. It is capable of generating powerful electric shocks, which it uses for both hunting and self-defense. It is a top predator in its South American range. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x900, 291 KB) Photo by Vsion (2005) File links The following pages link to this file: Electric eel User:Vsion/Gallery ...
Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ...
Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa Orthonectida Rhombozoa Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) Ctenophora Cnidaria Bilateria (unranked) Acoelomorpha Myxozoa Superphylum Deuterostomia Chordata Hemichordata Echinodermata Chaetognatha Superphylum Ecdysozoa Kinorhyncha Loricifera Priapulida Nematoda Nematomorpha Onychophora Tardigrada Arthropoda Superphylum Platyzoa Platyhelminthes Gastrotricha Rotifera Acanthocephala Gnathostomulida Micrognathozoa Cycliophora Superphylum Lophotrochozoa Sipuncula Nemertea Phoronida Bryozoa...
{{{subdivision_ranks}}} See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ...
Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ...
Families Apteronotidae (ghost knifefishes) Eigenmanniidae (obsolete?) Gymnotidae (naked-back knifefishes and electric eels) Hypopomidae Rhamphichthyidae Sternopygidae The gymnotiforms are an order (Gymnotiformes) of knifefishes that have organs adapted to the exploitation of bioelectricity. ...
In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ...
Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as , (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[1] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ...
A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold blooded, covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ...
Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...
South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...
Despite its name it is not an eel at all but rather a knifefish. For other uses, see Eel (disambiguation). ...
Families Apteronotidae (ghost knifefishes) Eigenmanniidae (obsolete?) Gymnotidae (naked-back knifefishes and electric eels) Hypopomidae Rhamphichthyidae Sternopygidae The gymnotiforms are an order (Gymnotiformes) of knifefishes that have organs adapted to the exploitation of bioelectricity. ...
The electric eel may be found in the basins of both the Amazon River and Orinoco River, as well as the surrounding areas. It can grow up to 2.5 m (about 8.2 feet) in length and 20 kg (about 44 pounds) in weight, although 1 m specimens are more common. A typical example will have an elongated cylindrical body bearing only a few scales, a flattened head, and an overall dark grayish green color shifting to yellowish on the bottom. A satellite image of the mouth of the Amazon River, looking south The Amazon River or River Amazon (Spanish: ; Portuguese: ) of South America is the most voluminous river on earth, having a greater total flow than the next six largest rivers combined. ...
This page is about the Orinoco River, for the Aphra Behn novel see Oroonoko With a length of 2140 km, the Orinoco is one of the largest rivers of South America. ...
They tend to live on muddy bottoms in calm water and are obligate air-breathers; rising to the surface every 10 minutes or so, the animal will gulp air before returning to the bottom. Nearly 80% of the oxygen used by the fish is taken in this way.
The Sachs organ, a stack of electroplaques, is the primary source of communication among E. electricus. This organ transmits a signal about 10V in amplitude. These signals are used in communication as well as orientation, useful not only to find prey but also thought to play an important role in finding and choosing a mate. Electrocytes, electroplaques or electroplaxs are cells used by rays, electric eels and other electric fish for electrogenesis and electroreception. ...
Scientists have been able to determine through experimental information that E. electricus has a well developed sense of sound. They have a Weberian apparatus that connects the ear to the swim bladder which greatly enhances their hearing capability. The Weberian apparatus is a set of bones that transmit vibrations to the inner ear of some fish. ...
The electric eel generates its characteristic electrical pulse in a manner similar to a battery, in which stacked plates produce an electrical charge. In the electric eel, some 5,000 to 6,000 stacked electroplaques are capable of producing a shock at up to 500 volts and 1 ampere of current (500 watts). There are reports of animals producing larger voltages, but the typical output is sufficient to stun or deter virtually any other animal. Juveniles produce smaller voltages (about 100 volts). Electric eels are capable of varying the intensity of the electrical discharge, using lower discharges for "hunting" and higher intensities are used for stunning prey, or defending themselves. When agitated, it is capable of producing these intermittent electrical shocks over a period of at least an hour without signs of tiring. The exact mechanism remains largely unknown. Electrocytes, electroplaques or electroplaxs are cells used by rays, electric eels and other electric fish for electrogenesis and electroreception. ...
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential and voltage (derived from the ampere and watt). ...
A multimeter can be used to measure current The ampere (symbol: A) is the SI base unit of electric current. ...
The watt (symbol: W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule per second. ...
The species is of some interest to researchers, who make use of its acetylcholinesterase and ATP. In biochemistry, cholinesterase is a term which refers to one of the two enzymes (EC 3. ...
Adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP), discovered in 1929 by Karl Lohmann,[1] is a multifunctional nucleotide primarily known in biochemistry as the molecular currency of intracellular energy transfer. ...
Similar species are the electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) and the electric ray (Torpedo mamorata, T. californica). Species Malapterurus electricus Malapterurus minjiriya Malapterurus microstoma Electric catfish (family Malapteruridae) is the common name of several species of freshwater catfish with the ability to produce an electric shock of up to 350 volts. ...
Families Narcinidae Torpedinidae hi Electric rays (order Torpediniformes) are fish that have a rounded body and a pair of organs capable of producing an electric discharge, which is used to stun or kill prey. ...
Although the eels are common in their range and popular draws for public aquaria, the eel's habit of delivering shocks, even when gently handled, means that they are too dangerous for most amateurs to try to keep at home. Moreover, the animals grow very large, and are impossible to maintain for all but the most dedicated of keepers. Countries such as Australia strictly forbid the keeping of electric eels, for fear that they could escape into the wild and become a public hazard. For other uses, see Aquarium (disambiguation). ...
The species is so unusual that it has been reclassified several times. Originally a species in Gymnotus, it was later given its own family Electrophoridae, and then demoted to a genus of Gymnotidae alongside Gymnotus. Genera Electrophorus Gymnotus The naked-back knifefishes are a family (Gymnotidae) of knifefishes that do not have a dorsal fin. ...
External links
1954 educational film about the electric eel from the Moody Institute of Science
References Look up Electric eel in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
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