Do 'electric eels', as the name suggests, can actually produce electricity? The science involving these aquatic hunters has made many people curious as some have tried to understand if this species can actually give you a jolt.

<h2>What are electric eels?</h2>

Electric eels are not “true” eels which are discovered in the order Anguilliformes. These species belong to the Gymnotiformes order&nbsp;which is also called as knifefishes.

Electric eels appear similar to carp&nbsp;and catfish, however, their elongated bodies and tapered tails make their movement through the waters swift.&nbsp;

Their body shapes help them in hunt and survive in the river ecosystems of South America.

Once an electric eel fully grows it can be 2.5 metres (8 feet) in length and 20 kilogrammes (45 pounds) in weight which makes them predators in their environment.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/free-diver-drops-65-feet-into-ocean-to-see-at-what-point-he-will-start-sinking-759292">Free diver drops 65 feet into ocean to see at what point he will 'start sinking'</a>

These electric eels are air breathers and fulfil 80 per cent of their oxygen needs by the intake of air into their mouths.

Because of this, these eels are able to thrive in&nbsp;oxygen-poor waters.&nbsp;

<h2>Are electric eels able to produce electricity?&nbsp;</h2>

The electric eels have three unique organs which help in the generation of electricity.

Each of these organs is filled with nearly 6,000 specific cells called electrolytes.

These electrolytes are able to discharge power when the eel feels threatened or when it attacks a potential prey.

“Electric eels are like living batteries. They have stacks of modified muscle cells called electrocytes, which have both a positive and a negative side,” said Dr Rupert Collins, who is a Senior Curator of Fishes at the&nbsp;Natural History Museum, London.

“When the cells are triggered, they discharge an electrical impulse into the surrounding water, making electric eels living, breathing generators of electricity," he added.

The scientists have not been able to understand how the electric eel manages to generate electric shocks and not hurt themselves in the process.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/global-superbug-crisis-40-million-lives-at-risk-over-next-25-years-warns-study-759317">Global superbug crisis: 40 million lives at risk over next 25 years, warns study</a>

It is, however, believed that the water absorbs most of the electrical current around the eel.&nbsp;

Generally, the eel is able to generate nearly 600 volts of electricity but at times they have been able to produce 860 volts, as per a study.&nbsp;

If a human gets a shock from an electric eel, it can lead to severe respiratory difficulties and can also stop the heart.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Do 'electric eels', as the name suggests, can actually produce electricity? The science involving these aquatic hunters has made many people curious as some have tried to understand if this species can actually give you a jolt.

Do 'electric eels', as the name suggests, can actually produce electricity? The science involving these aquatic hunters has made many people curious as some have tried to understand if this species can actually give you a jolt. What are electric eels? Electric eels are not “true” eels which are discovered in the order Anguilliformes. These species belong to the Gymnotiformes order which is also called as knifefishes. Electric eels appear similar to carp and catfish, however, their elongated bodies and tapered tails make their movement through the waters swift. Their body shapes help them in hunt and survive in the river ecosystems of South America. Once an electric eel fully grows it can be 2.5 metres (8 feet) in length and 20 kilogrammes (45 pounds) in weight which makes them predators in their environment. Also Read: Free diver drops 65 feet into ocean to see at what point he will 'start sinking' These electric eels are air breathers and fulfil 80 per cent of their oxygen needs by the intake of air into their mouths. Because of this, these eels are able to thrive in oxygen-poor waters. Are electric eels able to produce electricity? The electric eels have three unique organs which help in the generation of electricity. Each of these organs is filled with nearly 6,000 specific cells called electrolytes. These electrolytes are able to discharge power when the eel feels threatened or when it attacks a potential prey. “Electric eels are like living batteries. They have stacks of modified muscle cells called electrocytes, which have both a positive and a negative side,” said Dr Rupert Collins, who is a Senior Curator of Fishes at the Natural History Museum, London. “When the cells are triggered, they discharge an electrical impulse into the surrounding water, making electric eels living, breathing generators of electricity," he added. The scientists have not been able to understand how the electric eel manages to generate electric shocks and not hurt themselves in the process. Also Read: Global superbug crisis: 40 million lives at risk over next 25 years, warns study It is, however, believed that the water absorbs most of the electrical current around the eel. Generally, the eel is able to generate nearly 600 volts of electricity but at times they have been able to produce 860 volts, as per a study. If a human gets a shock from an electric eel, it can lead to severe respiratory difficulties and can also stop the heart. (With inputs from agencies)

These eels are electric. Here's how they can generate electricity

Experiments at Vanderbilt University have proven a 200-year-old observation that electric eels can leap out of water and shock animals to death, a claim originally made by 19th century biologist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt.

During a field trip to the Amazon basin in 1800, Humboldt said he saw electric eels leaping out of the water and delivering enough voltage to kill a horse. But with no scientific studies on the matter, and no similar observations since, many had come to believe that the famous naturalist was exaggerating.&nbsp;

&quot;The first time I read von Humboldt&#39;s tale, I thought it was completely bizarre,&quot; said Ken Catania, the Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, where the recent experiments were conducted. &quot;Why would the eels attack the horses instead of swimming away?&quot;

The answer, according to Catania, is that the eels felt cornered and threatened. A biologist who has been studying eels for several years, Catania said he not only validated the original account but found evidence that leaping eels were far more terrifying than even von Humboldt realized.

When an eel is submerged, the power of its electrical pulses is distributed throughout the water, freezing its target into state of shock, he said. Out of water, the high voltage electrical salvo zaps a target directly through the skin near the eel&#39;s chin, intensifying the effect. &nbsp;

To visualize it, Catania created an approximate model using electricity. He&nbsp;covered a plastic arm and crocodile head with a conductive metal strip and a network of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which used the voltage supplied by the eels and lit up brightly when attacked.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;When you see the LEDs light up, think of them as the endings of pain nerves being stimulated. That will give you an idea of how effective these attacks can be,&quot; Catania said.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.&nbsp;

Research at Vanderbilt University confirms a 200-year-old theory of electric eels jumping out of water to shock the prey.

Experiments at Vanderbilt University have proven a 200-year-old observation that electric eels can leap out of water and shock animals to death, a claim originally made by 19th century biologist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt. During a field trip to the Amazon basin in 1800, Humboldt said he saw electric eels leaping out of the water and delivering enough voltage to kill a horse. But with no scientific studies on the matter, and no similar observations since, many had come to believe that the famous naturalist was exaggerating. "The first time I read von Humboldt's tale, I thought it was completely bizarre," said Ken Catania, the Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, where the recent experiments were conducted. "Why would the eels attack the horses instead of swimming away?" The answer, according to Catania, is that the eels felt cornered and threatened. A biologist who has been studying eels for several years, Catania said he not only validated the original account but found evidence that leaping eels were far more terrifying than even von Humboldt realized. When an eel is submerged, the power of its electrical pulses is distributed throughout the water, freezing its target into state of shock, he said. Out of water, the high voltage electrical salvo zaps a target directly through the skin near the eel's chin, intensifying the effect. To visualize it, Catania created an approximate model using electricity. He covered a plastic arm and crocodile head with a conductive metal strip and a network of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which used the voltage supplied by the eels and lit up brightly when attacked. "When you see the LEDs light up, think of them as the endings of pain nerves being stimulated. That will give you an idea of how effective these attacks can be," Catania said. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.

New research confirms electric eels can kill horses

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