Meet the New Species of Electric Eel Capable of 860 Volts

Continue reading...

Most of us have probably used a 9-volt battery. They power small household items such as clocks, smoke detectors, and toys. Now think about what you could power with 860 volts. It’s 95 times the voltage of a 9-volt battery. That’s how much power an electric eel can produce.

It’s hard to believe that any species would want to eat something capable of delivering such a potent shock. However, caimans, members of the alligator family, are one of the few species that attempt it. In the video above, we see what 860 volts can do to a caiman that chose unwisely. Keep reading to learn more about this new species and find out how electric eels make and use all of that power.

A Powerful New Species of Electric Eel

Electric eels belong to the naked-back knifefish family, or Gymnotidae. Although we refer to them as eels, they are more like carp and catfish than other eels. They can grow to about eight feet long and weigh around 45 pounds. There are at least three types of electric eel, not just one as scientists originally believed. Electrophorus electricus and the newly discovered Electrophorus varii, and Electrophorus voltai live in the freshwater bodies of the Amazon basin in South America.

In field tests, Electrophorus voltai discharged a staggering 860 volts, which is the highest ever recorded for any animal. The highest previously recorded was 650 volts from Electrophorus electricus. The electrical discharge from Electrophorus varii has been measured as high as 572 volts.

Can an Electric Eel Kill a Human?

Human deaths due to electric eels are very rare, but they can still cause serious harm. Although the voltage is high, the current (amperage) is very low. Scientists estimate it is only up to 1 amp. So the discharge may have more energy, but there is very little current. It also takes some time for the eel to recharge after a large shock.

However, people have been killed by electrical sources as low as 42 volts. Respiratory difficulties or heart failure may occur with multiple eel shocks. There have also been instances of drowning in shallow water after a person was incapacitated by a shock from an electric eel. So, it is clear that electric eels have formidable defensive mechanisms for dealing with predators.

Making Electricity

Electric eels create electricity in three different organs. These are called the main organ, the Hunter’s organ, and the Sach’s organ. They make up around 80% of the eel’s body. These organs produce impulses of varying strengths, depending on the purpose.

Eels use the main organ and part of the Hunter’s organ to create strong impulses for stunning prey and predators. The other half of the Hunter’s organ and the Sach’s organ produce weaker impulses. Eels have poor eyesight, so these low-level charges help the eels navigate, hunt prey, and signal their interest to other eels during courtship.

How Do Eels Use This Electricity?

Eels have thousands of muscle cells called electrocytes. They have both a positive side and a negative side, and they can store power like batteries. If the eel is hunting prey or feels threatened, all of those cells can discharge into the surrounding water simultaneously.

As the caiman in the video found out, electric eels don’t have to be fully submerged in the water to deliver a jolt. Eels will attach their chin, the positive end of their body, to the predator while leaving the negative end in the water. This creates a closed electrical circuit and keeps the impulses from being discharged into the water. So all of that electricity surges into the predator. There’s no doubt such a powerful shock will discourage whatever is trying to eat it.