ELECTRIC ELL

Electric eels have been used as a model in the study of Bio-electrogenesis. The
species is of some interest to researchers. The electric eel (Electrophorus
electricus) is an electric fish, and the only species in that genus. Despite the
name, it is not an eel, but rather a knife fish.

Body Structure:
The electric eel has an elongated, cylindrical body, typically growing to about
2m in length, and 20 kg in weight, making them the largest species of the
Gymnotiformes. The coloration is dark gray-brown on the back and yellow or
orange on the belly. Mature males have a darker colour on the belly. The
mouth is square, and positioned at the end of the snout. The anal fin extends
the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The swim bladder has two
chambers. The anterior chamber is connected to the inner ear by a series of
small bones derived from neck vertebrae called, which greatly enhances its
hearing capability. The electric eel has three pairs of abdominal organs that
produce electricity:
1. The main organ
2. The Hunter's organ
3. The Sach's organ

Breathing System:
As obligate air-breathers, electric eels must rise to the surface every 10
minutes or so to inhale before returning to the bottom. Nearly 80% of the
oxygen used by the fish is obtained in this way.

Generating Electricity:
The Sach's organ is associated with electro location. Inside the organ are many
muscle-like cells, called electrocytes. Each cell can only produce 0.15 V, though
the organ can transmit a signal of nearly 10 V overall in amplitude at around 25
Hz in frequency. These signals are emitted by the main organ; the Hunter's
organ can emit signals at rates of several hundred hertz. Juveniles produce
smaller voltages (about 100 V). They are capable of varying the intensity of the
electric discharge, using lower discharges for hunting and higher intensities for
stunning prey or defending themselves.

These organs are made of electrocytes, lined up so a current of ions can flow
through them and stacked so each one adds to a potential difference. When
the eel locates its prey, the brain sends a signal through the nervous system to
the electrocytes. This opens the ion channels, allowing sodium to flow through,
reversing the polarity momentarily. By causing a sudden difference in electric
potential, it generates an electric current in a manner similar to a battery, in
which stacked plates each produce an electric potential difference.

How much Electricity they can produce???

In the electric eel, some 5,000 to 6,000 stacked electroplaques are capable of
producing a shock at up to 860 volts and 1 ampere of current (600 watts) for a
duration of two milliseconds. It would be extremely unlikely for such a shock to
be deadly for an adult human, due to the very short duration of the discharge.
Atrial fibrillation requires that roughly 700 mA be delivered across the heart
muscle for 30 ms or more, far longer than the eel is able to produce. Still, this
level of current is reportedly enough to produce a brief and painful numbing
shock likened to a stun gun discharge, which due to the voltage can be felt for
some distance from the fish; this is a common risk for aquarium caretakers and
biologists attempting to handle or examine electric eels.

Research is going on:

Researchers at Yale University and the National Institute of Standards and
Technology argue artificial cells could be built that not only replicate the
electrical behaviour of electric eel cells, but also improve onthem. Artificial
versions of the eel's electricity-generating cells could be developed as a power
source for medical implants and other microscopic devices.

Inhabitent:
Electric eels inhabit fresh waters of the Amazon and Orinoco River basins in
South America, in floodplains, swamps, creeks, small rivers, and coastal plains.
They often live on muddy bottoms in calm or stagnant waters.
These fish have always been sought after by some animal collectors, but
catching them is difficult, because the only reasonable option is to make the
eels tired by continually discharging their electricity. The fish's electric organs
eventually become completely discharged, allowing the collector to wade into
the water in comparative safety.

Shocking Facts about the ELL:

1. Electric eels arent actually eels. Theyre members of the knife fish family.
2. The critters are native to South American rivers, but they dont spend all
their time underwater. They have to come to the surface to breathe.
3. All of an electric eels vital organs are crammed into the front 20 percent of
its body. The rest is packed with 6000 cells that act like tiny batteries.
4. With that much body devoted to electricity, its no wonder an eel can zap
out more than 600 volts!

5. Electric eels cant see what theyre shocking. Theyre mostly blind and use a
radarlike system of electrical pulses to navigate and find food.
6. Eels thick skin normally insulates them from their own attacks, but when
wounded, theyll shock themselves!

BIG & DEADLY ELECTRIC EELS :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GomeIaCmQPw

THANK YOU
MD SHAKABUL ISLAM SOURAV

EEE@IUT