Pertanyaan

The electric eel ( Electrophorus electricus ) is a South American electric fish. Until 2019, it was classified as the only species in its genus. Despite their serpentine appearance, electric eels are not actually eels. Their scientific classification is closer to carp and catfish. Electric eels grow to lengths of 6 to 8 feet. The electric eel has a slender, snake-like body and flattened head. Its thick, scaleless skin is generally dark gray to brown, and its underside is a yellow-orange color. Three specialized electric organs—the main electrical organ, the Hunter’s organ and the Sachs’ organ—make up about 80 percent of this fish’s body. Its remaining vital organs are tightly packed within the anterior, or front, part of its body. The electric organs create strong and weak electric charges, which are utilized for defense, hunting, communication and navigation. This species lives in the murky streams and ponds of the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America, feeding mainly on fish, but also amphibians and even birds and small mammals. As air-breathers, they must come to the surface frequently. They also have poor eyesight, but can emit a low-level charge, less than 10 volts, which they use like radar to navigate and locate prey. When a predator hunts the electric eels down, they would probably...