We’re back with another episode this time with our first listener question; why don’t electric eels electrocute themselves? We go back to the basics of how animals use electricity and how the electric eels crazy powerful shock is generated and then talk about an interesting case study with Sparky the eel who we all agree was very aptly named. You’ll have to listen in to find out more and maybe even hear why electric eels just might be aquatic Jedi.
Find us over on Twitter and Instagram @3_Zoologists to ask us questions or just tell us what you think, and if you want to find out more about what we talked about in this episode, check out the stuff below.
References:
Catania, K. 2015. Electric eels use high-voltage to track fast-moving prey. Nature Communications, 6(1).
Catania, K., 2016. Leaping eels electrify threats, supporting Humboldt’s account of a battle with horses. PNAS, 113(25), pp.6979-6984.
Welzel, G. 2021. Efficient high-voltage protection in the electric catfish. J. Exp. Biol. 224(4), p.jeb239855.
Science News for Students. 2021. The shocking Electric Eel!. (sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/shocking-electric-eel).
How do fish make electricity? – Eleanor Nelson (youtube.com/watch?v=z0M7_HPSi14).
Nico, Leo. 1991. Fishes of the night. Part 1: The electric eel. Tropical Fish Hobbyist. 39 (January). 12-14, 17, 20, 22.
Bastos, D. 2021. Social predation in electric eels. Ecology and Evolution, 11(3), pp.1088-1092.
Curtis, C. 2003. Mate preference in female electric fish, Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus. Animal Behaviour, 66(2), pp.329-336.
Lavoué, S. 2012. Comparable Ages for the Independent Origins of Electrogenesis in African and South American Weakly Electric Fishes. PLoS ONE, 7(5), p.e36287.
Arnegard, M. 2010. Old gene duplication facilitates origin and diversification of an innovative communication system--twice. PNAS, 107(51), pp.22172-22177.
Kempster, R. 2013. Survival of the Stillest: Predator Avoidance in Shark Embryos. PLoS ONE, 8(1), p.e52551.
Arnegard, M. 2005. Electric organ discharge patterns during group hunting by a mormyrid fish. Proc. Royal Soc. B, 272(1570), pp.1305-1314.