Researchers in Brazil have discovered not 1, but 2 new species of electric eel—and they are even more impressive than the original
How does an electric eel produce a shock?
The electric eel has three electricity-producing organs, the Sachs’ Organ, the Hunter’s Organ, and the Main Organ, which together make up about 80% of the fish’s body. The organs are each made up of electrocytes, which function like modern batteries by creating differences in electric potential that can generate a powerful shock.Like the elephant fish, the electric eel produces currents to sense its surroundings and search for prey.
Researchers analyzed the DNA, morphology, and shock-power of the electric eel, and discovered enough differences to constitute three different species. One of the newly-described electric eels,, even broke the shock record, producing a discharge of 860 volts - the highest found in any animal. “The discovery of new electric eel species in Amazonia, one of the planet's biodiversity hotspots, is suggestive of the vast amount of species that remain to be discovered in nature” said Dr. Carlos David de Santana, lead author of the study. “Furthermore, the region is of great interest to other scientific fields, such as medicine and biotechnology, reinforcing the need to protect and conserve it...
Current research seeks to further understand the enzymes produced by the fish’s electric organs for medical applications relevant to Alzheimer’s disease, prosthetic batteries, and human sensor implants.
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