A new research reveals that eels can utilize their electric organs to tenuously control the fish they hunt. This large amount of electricity compels the prey to twitch in its hiding place. This kind of movement or shudder of the fish discloses its actual location to eels.
Electric eels have an electric organ that produce specialized cells known as electrolytes. These cells work as biological batteries of the eels. It can release electric pulses of up to 600 volts to protect its self from predators.
Researchers of Vanderbilt University in Nashville Texas discovered that the electric charge makes the hunting task easier for eels as they can immobilize its prey with it.
Kenneth Catania, the lead author of the study stated that earlier people used to believe that eels emit these current to show excitement. However, no one was aware that they do it in order to locate its prey.
Experts carried out an experiment to closely analyze the behavior of eels. They specially arranged a small aquatic ring to examine the hunting process of eels. They placed the fish and the eel into same tank.
Researchers observed that when eel noticed its prey it produced pulses of electricity which stopped the fish.
Later on, experts concluded that the high voltage pulses of eels instantly touched the nervous system of the fish. It controlled the muscles of the fish with the help of nervous system of the victim the eels sensitivity towards the water movement can detect the slightest motion of the fish
Mark Nelson, a researcher of the University of Illinois informed that these charges make eels relativity cleverer at the time of hunt. It explore instead of standing in shock in a side
The report is explained in detail in Journal Science