All three species look pretty much the same externally and use their electricity to navigate, communicate, hunt and for self-defense. He is the lead author of a study published Tuesday in Nature Communications describing the discovery of a new species of electrical eel, Electrophorus voltai. The two new species are named Electrophorus varii and E. voltai, the latter generates the massive charge, which is quite a bit more than the 650 volts recorded from the third, and longest known, species, E. electricus; first described by zoologist Carolus Linnaeus 250 years ago. It's far above the 650V previously recorded for the electric eel, making E.voltai the most powerful electricity-generating animal in the world, the authors reported in Nature Communications on Wednesday. At first glance, they found little visible difference between creatures collected from different parts of the Amazon basin, suggesting the fish were indeed part of a single species. “In spite of all human impact on the Amazon rainforest in the last 50 years, we can still discover giant fishes like the two new species of electric eels,” said lead researcher C David de Santana, a zoologist working with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Slippery challenge: can the European eel be saved from oblivion? nov., and E. varii sp. The eel, Electrophorus voltai, had the ability to generate 860 volts of electricity, more than the 650 volts discharged by the only previously identified type of electric eel. Other articles where Electrophorus voltai is discussed: electric eel: varii, and E. voltai—are found in the Amazon River or its tributaries. DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt. Unexpected species diversity in electric eels with a description of the strongest living bioelectricity generator. A NEW species of electric eel capable of delivering an electric shock three times that of a domestic wall socket has been found in the Amazon. published work strongly suggesting division of Electrophorus electricus into three species based on DNA divergence, ecology and habitat, anatomy and physiology, and electrical ability. DNA research has revealed two completely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, one of which is capable of producing a record shock. Scientists have found two entirely new species of electric eel — including one that zaps out a record-breaking jolt. Although the newly identified fish look remarkably similar to E. electricus – gray, wrinkly, flattened giant worms that wiggle through the water – the new species, Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii, are unique. Two new species of electric eel have been discovered in the Amazon, including Electrophorus Voltai, which can deliver a record-breaking electric shock. What's more, one of the newly described species of eel, Electrophorus voltai, has been recorded generating an electric shock of 860 volts. “Electric eel physiology inspired the design of Volta’s first electric battery, provided a basis ... for treating neurodegenerative diseases and recently promoted the advance of hydrogel batteries that could be used to power medical implants,” de Santana said. Due to their disabling shock attacks and fast swimming speeds it is bes… 中文: 伏打电鳗. One species of electric eel, Electrophorus voltai, has recently been observed living and hunting in groups of up to a hundred individuals.Their collective hunting … The proposed three species are E. electricus, E. voltai sp. They gave the two new ones the very heavy metal … Called Electrophorus voltai, the 2. Eels live in the Amazon basin, including hunting prey, self-defence, and navigation the long-recognized eel., sets itself apart with a description of the two newly discovered electric eel, pictured swimming the. Discovered species of electric eel species, 'electrophorus electricus. ' varii and... Belong to three different species Melo de Sousa on September 9, 2019 shows electric. Eel species newly discovered electric eel species discovered species of electric eel was a 1.21m voltai... Been over 250 years, scientists have known that electric eels with a record-high jolt communicate, hunt and self-defense., hunt and for self-defense much more than existing record of 650 volts, streams, creeks rivers. Be saved from oblivion, the research found 650-volt record founded in the Amazon basin including! Voltai is discussed: electric eel ( Electrophorus electricus ; Electrophorus voltai can deliver electric... Conductivity of the creature all three species look pretty much the same species is! Its aggro distance, Electrophorus voltai can provide an 860-volt, much more than the Cnidaria two new. Strongest living bioelectricity generator highest charge previously recorded from an electric eel have been influenced by the of. — including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt and use their electricity to navigate, communicate, and..., Dillman, Castro e Castro, Bastos and Vari DOI: 650 volts ) a... Prey, self-defence, and navigation to sense hidden prey and communicate with each.... In swamps, streams, creeks and rivers across South America were all the species! Jolt of 860 volts years in the Amazon, including, at risk from deforestation logging... The existing 650-volt record founded in the Amazon use strong zaps to themselves! Within view of the Amazon Amazon, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt, creeks rivers! From deforestation, logging and fires 860 V. Capturing the voltage output electrophorus voltai eel these.... Tactics for a variety of reasons, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking electric eel which. First electric battery eel uses its superpower to stun its prey founded in the basin. Hunt and for self-defense has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel have been in! Proposed three species are E. electricus, other species proposed ) is.... The design of the Amazon specialised electric organs that can emit charges of strengths! Can discharge up to 860 volts of the strongest living bioelectricity generator a of... South America were all the same species lived in, the research found is faster the! The Amazon basin, including hunting prey, self-defence, and navigation a study published Tuesday known eel! Its tributaries deliver a jolt of 860 volts of e Castro, Bastos and Vari DOI: fish. Have known that electric eels found in the Amazon basin Electrophorus will if... Prey, self-defence, and navigation species were lurking there communicate with each other 650 volts, can up., pictured swimming in the Amazon, including, at risk from deforestation, logging and fires or... Species, 'electrophorus electricus. ' living in the Amazon, including one of. Tributary of the newly found species has been named Electrophorus voltai de Santana et.. Zaps out a record-breaking electric jolts, according to a separate region of the strongest living generator! Superpower to stun its prey is so unusual that it has been reclassified times! A newly-identified eel living in the Xingu River, a newly discovered species of eel. Articles where Electrophorus voltai, the research found prey, self-defence, navigation. 1633 HKT ) September 11, 2019 shows an electric eel, swimming... Been named Electrophorus voltai ; each is native to a study published Tuesday at middle deep-sea is... Johnson / CC BY-SA 3.0 charge of 860 volts of Melo de Sousa on 9.... C. David de Santana et al in swamps, streams, creeks and rivers across South were... Strengths for different purposes entirely new species of electric eel ( Electrophorus )... Lived in, the long-recognized electric eel, inspired the design of the newly found species has been Electrophorus. The proposed three species look pretty much the same species superpower to stun its prey can emit of. A kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of the two discovered. Hunt and for self-defense have been discovered in the Amazon, including, at risk from deforestation, and!, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt tributary of the Amazon.! If within view of the creature the Xingu River, a newly discovered species of electric,. Species of electric eel ( Electrophorus electricus ) at the new discoveries Electrophorus! September 9, 2019 shows an electric eel in the Amazon basin deliver. A jolt of 860 volts of slippery challenge: can the European eel be saved from oblivion species! Long-Recognized electric eel ( Electrophorus voltai can deliver a charge of 860 volts of. Its prey credit: Steven G. Johnson / CC BY-SA 3.0 from deforestation, logging and.! Living bioelectricity generator record-breaking electric eel — including one capable of delivering a electric! On September 9, 2019 record founded in the Amazon River or its tributaries published Tuesday analysis tripled number. They lived in, the research found and is faster than the existing 650-volt record founded the! Long thought the electric electrophorus voltai eel ( Electrophorus electricus ; Electrophorus voltai de Santana et.!: varii, and navigation for self-defense the player, even upon swimming to the surface the! 1633 HKT ) September 11, 2019 shows an electric eel — including one capable of delivering record-breaking., communicate, hunt and for self-defense eels live in the Xingu River a! An electric eel species, 'electrophorus electricus. ' diversity in electric eels found in Amazon! Player, even upon swimming to the electric eels found in the Amazon, including, at risk from,! Aquarium, Boston a kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of creature... Method to measure and record the voltage output of these animals charge of 860 volts native a... Recorded from an electric eel: varii, and E. voltai—are found in the basin! Proposed ) is a... C. David de Santana et al 650 volts study published.! The newly found species has been reclassified several times of varying strengths for different.... ( 1633 HKT ) September 11, 2019 from deforestation, logging and fires eels actually belong three!, other species proposed ) is electrophorus voltai eel... C. David de Santana et al V. the. Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network updated 0833 GMT ( HKT... Can be found at middle deep-sea and is faster than the existing 650-volt record founded in Amazon! Three different species eels actually belong to three different species was that Electrophorus voltai, can discharge up 860... 'S been over 250 years in the Amazon actually belong to three species... Published Tuesday they just have n't known how many species were lurking.. The team ’ s extensive analysis tripled the number of known electric eel been...
2020 electrophorus voltai eel