Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) — luchepery fish of the Gimnotoobraznykh family. Surprising feature of this animal, besides a serpentine body, - ability to produce electricity.
The electric eel — large fish, long from 1 to 3 meters, the weight of an eel reaches 40 kg. The body of an eel extended — serpentine, is covered with gray-green skin without scales, and in a front part it okruglo, and is closer to a tail priplusnuto from sides. Eels live in South America, in particular, in a river basin Amazon.
Major acne generates a discharge voltage of 1200 V and a current of up to 1 A. Even a small aquarium species produce discharges ranging from 300 to 650 V. Thus, electric eel may pose a serious danger to humans.
The electric eel accumulates considerable charges of electricity which categories uses for hunting and defense against predators. But an eel — not the only fish producing electricity.
Electric fishes
Besides electric eels, a huge number of freshwater and sea fishes are capable to generate electricity. In total there are about three hundred such views from various unrelated families. The majority of "electric" fishes use electric field for navigation or finding of production, but certain representatives have more serious charges. Electric slopes — cartilaginous fishes, relatives of sharks, depending on a look can have tension of a charge from 50 to 200 V, current at the same time reaches 30 A. The similar charge can strike quite large catch. Electric catfishes are freshwater fishes, reach 1 meter in length, weight does not exceed 25 kg. Despite rather modest sizes, the electric catfish is capable to develop 350-450 V, at current in 0.1-0.5 A.
Electric bodies
The mentioned fishes show unusual abilities thanks to modified muscles — to electric body. At various fishes various building and the size, and arrangement has this education, for example, at an electric eel it is placed on both sides along a body and is about 25% of mass of fish.
Japanese aquarium Enoshima electric eel used to light Christmas trees. The tree is connected to the aquarium-dwelling fish it produces about 800 watts of electricity, which is enough for illumination.
Any electric body consists of electric plates — modified nervous and muscle cells which membranes create potential difference. The electric plates connected consistently are collected in columns which are in parallel connected among themselves. The potential difference developed by plates collects on the opposite ends of electric body. It is necessary only to activate it. The electric eel, for example, is bent, and between a positively charged front part of a body and negatively charged back a series of electric discharges slips, striking the victim.