Audio of electric eel discharges

This gives me the creeps, but it's also pretty awesome.

The electric eel has tiny battery-like cells called electrocytes that store power. If threatened or in pursuit of prey, this fish can discharge a current of up to 600 volts, depending on its size. This is far more powerful than the jolt you would get from a standard household outlet if you were foolish enough to play around with electricity. The difference is that a household outlet will deliver a continuous charge while the electric eel’s shock lasts only seconds. The fish can deliver a series of charges in rapid secession, though, rendering its victim helpless and possibly causing heart failure or drowning. In addition to this stunning power, the electric eel also uses lower voltage electric signals as a kind of radar guidance system to navigate the murky waters and find prey. This is very handy since they have extremely poor eyesight.

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a reply to: Domo1
Wow, that's incredible. That Eel must have one heck of a storage capacitor.

a reply to: donktheclown

We need to harness these things. Imagine roofs covered in eels, we'd have hot water, even at night !!!



I had no idea that can put out over 600volts though. and at such a velocity, it would hurt, over and over.

a living water tazer..

a reply to: Domo1

Watch this

This one goes back to 1954. He feeds the eel in this one and then the dude takes eel out of water and lights up stuff and electacutes some people. Amazing creature

a reply to: Observationalist

Ha! That was awesome thanks!