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Gymnotus electricus. Electrophorus electricus is the best-known species of electric eel. It is a South American electric fish. Until the discovery of two additional species in 2019, the genus was classified as the monotypic, with this species the only one in the genus. [2] Despite the name, it is not an eel, but rather a knifefish. [3]
E. electricus and E. voltai, the two upland species which live in fast-flowing rivers, appear to make less use of parental care. [21] The male provides protection for both the young and the nest. [55] Captive specimens have sometimes lived for over 20 years. [28] As the fish grow, they continually add more vertebrae to their spinal column. [28]
An electric fish is any fish that can generate electric fields, whether to sense things around them, for defence, or to stun prey. Most fish able to produce shocks are also electroreceptive, meaning that they can sense electric fields. The only exception is the stargazer family (Uranoscopidae). Electric fish, although a small minority of all ...
Malapterurus. Paradoxoglanis. Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes). This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. [1] Several species of this family have the ability to generate electricity, delivering a shock of up to 350 volts from its electric organ. [2]
Description. It closely resembles E. electricus but differs in skull morphology, including having a depressed skull and a wide head. It has a maximum voltage of 860 volts, making it not only the strongest bioelectricity generator of the three electric eel species, but also of any animal. [3] Males get larger than females by about 35 cm (14 in).
Electric organ (fish) An electric ray (Torpediniformes) showing location of paired electric organs in the head, and electrocytes stacked within it. In biology, the electric organ is an organ that an electric fish uses to create an electric field. Electric organs are derived from modified muscle or in some cases nerve tissue, called electrocytes ...
History of bioelectricity. The history of bioelectricity dates back to ancient Egypt, where the shocks delivered by the electric catfish were used medicinally. In the 18th century, the abilities of the torpedo ray and the electric eel were investigated by scientists including Hugh Williamson and John Walsh.
Malapterurus species are generally found among rocks or roots in turbid or black waters with low visibility. They favor sluggish or standing water. [ 3] M. electricus is a voracious piscivore. It uses its electrical discharges to stun prey. It is an opportunistic feeder and will feed on any readily available prey in the habitat.