Electric eel (photos can be seen in this article) belongs to the class of bony fish of the family Electric eels.He inhabits the middle and lower Amazon tributaries and small rivers in the northeast of South America.This large fish, its average length of 1 to 1.5 m, but there are also three-meter individual weighing 40 kg.
Electric Eels have bescheshuychatoe, naked serpentine body, which is covered with a thin layer of mucus in the back of somewhat laterally compressed.Color can be called camouflage.In young animals it is uniform, olive-brown, while adults have a bright orange color on the underside of the head and throat.The eyes are small, the mouth is a row of small teeth.The ventral and dorsal fins are absent, chest quite small, only a well-developed anal fin.That's fine with it floats in all directions electric eel.Gone Fishing - the river bottom, where it prefers to hide among seaweed.There also need to catch eel.
Usually in its habitat the water murky, slow-with minimal oxygen content.Therefore, these fish in the mouth have special areas of vascular tissue, allowing them to absorb from the air oxygen.In other words, electric eels forced from time to time for several minutes to rise to the water surface to receive a portion of fresh air.
Why are they called the electric?The fact that the species is able to produce electricity discharges.Typically, one such category is 350, but especially large individuals are capable of generating voltages up to 650 V, which is dangerous even for humans.How does this happen?Electric Eels have a special organ that occupies a large part of their body, and is composed of special cells.They are connected by sequentially nerve branches.Plus located in front of the body, and the rear - minus.Weak electric charges generated at the beginning of the body, and by the end of the way they are added together, and their power increases by several times.This fish is also called a living battery.
discharge large individuals able to stun even respectable opponent.Although it is worth noting that electric eels primarily feed on small fish.So what they need such power?I must say that this kind to date remains poorly known, for example, still do not know how they propagate.And such discharges are likely to be necessary for self-defense, because they use to hunt up to 300 V. slaying stunned or so fish, eels lowered her to the bottom of it and swallow it whole.
addition to these electric organs, have this type of acne there is an additional, which acts as a locator.With his help locating fish emit low-frequency level.They return from obstacle located ahead of and possible production and thus, acne prepared for their desired information.They attacked without warning and even in case of danger, do not try to escape.So, if on your way there was like an eel, it is better first to give way, especially large specimens.Perhaps his electrical discharge will not kill you, but to lose consciousness of it you may well be able to.So it would be wiser to retreat to a safe distance.
