Electric eels are fascinating creatures that have long intrigued scientists due to their ability to produce electricity. At the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, five electric eels live in the Amazon Rising habitat, where visitors can witness their unique capabilities. The eels emit low-voltage pulses that can be detected by probes in the water, which then transmit the energy to a lightbar and speaker. Visitors can interact with the eels by pushing a button to summon bubbles or make it rain in the habitat, causing the eels to become more active and increase their electricity output.
Electric eels are known to be elusive and difficult to study in the wild, making habitats like the one at Shedd invaluable for researchers. The five eels living in the Amazon Rising habitat at Shedd are unique because most aquariums and research centers are not able to keep groups of eels together. By housing these eels together, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how they interact and communicate with each other.
Adult electric eels, which technically belong to the knifefish family, are capable of producing up to 800 volts of electricity. This level of electricity can be dangerous, potentially knocking a person off their feet or causing fatal disruptions to their heart rhythm. When the eels at Shedd require medical attention, aquarists like Jim Watson take special precautions to ensure their safety while handling them.
Scientists have long studied how electric eels produce electricity, but recent research has focused on understanding how they use this electricity for communication, navigation, hunting, and defense. Eels are able to produce various levels of electrical impulses depending on their goals. They emit low-voltage electric waves to navigate and locate prey, while higher voltage is used for attack.
In a laboratory setting, researchers have demonstrated the shocking power of electric eels by allowing them to leap out of the water to shock a target. The larger the eel, the stronger the shock it can produce. At Shedd, the well-fed eels do not prey on other inhabitants of their exhibit but use their electrical impulses for navigation and communication.
Researchers are interested in studying the specific behaviors associated with different electrical impulses in eels. By observing how the signals change as eels approach food, scientists hope to better understand whether these low-level impulses serve as a form of communication between eels. With five eels living together in the Shedd habitat, aquarists like Watson aim to unravel the mysteries of how these fascinating creatures interact with each other.
Overall, electric eels continue to captivate researchers and visitors alike with their unique abilities and behaviors. The ongoing studies at places like the Shedd Aquarium offer valuable insights into the world of these electrifying creatures.