One species of freshwater fish of the most unique I've ever known to man is the electric eel. As the name implies, eel / eel electricity (electric eel; Electrophorus electrics) has the ability to generate electricity. But not as the name implies the electric eel though actually not similar shape. In scientific classification ladder, electric eel categorized as a kind of fish dagger (knife fish), order Gymnotiformes. For comparison, the eel was included in order Synbranchiformes, while eels belong to the order Anguilliformes.
At first glance, the electric eel does have a similar appearance with eel / eel. Long shaped body with skin without scales are brown on top and yellow on the bottom. On the back of his head there is a pair of pectoral fins are small, while at the bottom of the body there is a fin that extends to the tip of the tail. Electric eels swim with fins vibrating under her like a wave. The maximum length of an electric eel is 2.5 m, while the maximum weight is 20 kg.
Electric eels are found only in freshwater and swamp Central & South America. His favorite habitat is quiet fast-flowing waters filled with mud. As a result of the poor condition of the waters of oxygen, electric eels have to come to the surface water periodically to suck oxygen. Approximately 80% of oxygen consumed by the electric eel obtained in this way. On the other hand, the condition of the electric eel waters turbid aqueous helped camouflage of enemies or prey.
The most interesting thing of the electric eel course is the ability to produce electricity. Electric eel can produce electricity because it has an electric organ along the side of his body. Electricity generated by the electric eel can reach a voltage of 650 volts. However, because of the electric eel can only resulted in high-voltage electricity in a very short span of time, the electricity generated eels are considered not strong enough to kill humans, although still could result in serious injury to the victim.
Electric eel has properties father
Eel electric organ is composed of specialized cells called electrocute (electrolyte) are compact, piles, and the charged ions electricity. When receiving a command from the brain, there is a change in the position of the ion electric organ that creates electricity. Electric eel head serves as the positive pole, while the tip of its tail acts as a negative pole. When the electric eel want to check the surrounding environment by means of an electric wave, electric eels will produce low-voltage electricity while swimming backwards.
The purpose electric eel generate electricity is to capture prey that includes small fish. The trick, electric eels will approach their prey slowly. Then when prey is nearby electric eel, the eel is suddenly going to turn on the electric organ. Prey electric shock will pass out immediately so that the eel can eat its prey without the bother anymore. In addition to hunting, electric eels also use electricity to defend themselves, to detect objects around them, and communicate with other electric eel.
Electric eel breeding season occurs during the dry season local time. Males will make a nest by using saliva, and females are much bigger than the males will put the eggs into the nest before then fertilized by the male. The number of eggs that can be released once the female eels spawn is 17,000 grains. The next stud in charge of guarding the nest until the eggs hatch into larvae of eels.
Eel larvae are able to generate electricity when the new measuring 1.5 cm. But only in the size of 4 cm, the child eel can produce high voltage. Children eel originally lived on small animals invertebrates (invertebrates). When the size is large enough, then the eels live by eating small fish by harnessing the power of electricity. Unknown age maximum electric eels in the wild. If the catch, an electric eel are known to live up to the age of 22 years.