MadSci Network: Zoology |
The electric eel (which, by the way, is not a true eel but a Cypriniform fish) can produce an electric discharge on the order of 600 - 650 volts. In order to do this, there must be numerous excitable cells set in series with one another. For example, if there are somewhere around 4500 of these excitable cells sitting in series (and thus summating the voltage), and each cell produces 140 millivolts, you would arrive at around 630 total volts of discharge. The individual cells of the electric organ are designed such that only one side of the cell carries the electric potential, and all of the cells are aligned similarly. Thus the charge is carried in one direction from the body. The head then acts as the positive end of the 'battery', and the tail as the negative. When the eel is resting there is no electricity generated from the organ, but when it begins to move it emits electrical impulses. In some electric fishes, this electric current is used for communication and/or recognizing prey items. In the electric eel, when the eel touches its tail and head to an animal, it sends electric shocks through that animals body, much the same way, you can shock someone with static electricity and not get shocked yourself.
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