Question No.  588 :
How does Electric Eel produce electricity?

The Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus) is found in the middle and lower Amazon basins of South America. This fish lacks dorsal, tail and pelvic fins and swims by undulation of the anal fin. It feeds on frogs, fish and crustaceans. It has an auxiliary air-breathing organ in the mouth, which is vital for respiration, as it lives in muddy waters. In fact, the Electric Eel runs the risk of drowning if it stays submerged for more than 15 minutes! The Electric Eel lives up to its name -- it can produce an electric shock so powerful that it can kill a man! All living cells produce very small amounts of electricity as a result of chemical reactions that occur inside the cells. Muscle cells produce more electricity and this is how doctors can use an electrocardiograph to detect abnormal electrical patterns in patients with heart disease. In the Electric Eel, electricity is produced in electric organs, which occupy about four-fifths of its body. They are made of some 6,000 water-like electroplates arranged in rows and connected in series. Although the individual electrical output is small, the cumulative effect is considerable. When the eel is touched, it may discharge electricity by reflex action. Pulses of electrical current flow from the eel's head through the water to its tail. Minerals dissolved in the water make it a good conductor of electricity and a fish or person will get a jolt. A fully-grown eel (2.4m) can deliver a shock of 600 volts! Electricity is used by the Electric Eel for several reasons. The electric organs are used as electro-sensors as the eel cannot see very well. Small pulses are emitted which are then bounced back by passing objects and detected by special electro-receptors on the skin. This allows the eel to navigate as well as locate prey. Electrical discharges can also be used to stun or kill prey and even as a form of defence. The electric pulses are also used for communication, with dominant males making the loudest and most frequent emissions. Question Asked By:

Name: Vaishnav S Rajan

Age Group: 13 to 20

Occupation Type: Student

Education Level: N/O Level's