This probably means that the eel was only known by names in the local language prior to this. "There's enough power in the eel's electric organ to kill anything it wants," said Sussman. Electric eels (in the Electrophorus genus), prior to the discovery of electricity, were called various things by observers in the ancient and medieval worlds. This Common Science Fact Is So Cray. Instead, their anal fins are long and extended. Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids that fold together in a specific way that defines their shape, and from that, to a very large extent, their function. These fish are often called electric eels in the early days of electric current. Though each cell generates only about 0.15 volts, in a large electric eel, six thousand cells may be stacked to make one giant battery that can generate as much as 600 volts for a short pulse. They comment that the work "has mapped out changes in the system level design of the electrocyte" that could increase both energy density and energy conversion efficiency. Electrolytes are essential for a number of functions in the body. An eel can generate hundreds of volts of electricity (American household outlets are 110 volts), but the eel's voltage does not push enough current (amperage), for a long enough time, to kill. They have very poor vision and have evolved to use their electric powers to locate their prey. Electricity takes different forms: coal, water, solar, wind, nuclear, hydro and solar. [42][43] These organs are also rich in sodium potassium ATPase, an ion pump used to create a potential difference across cell membranes. Their backs and sides are gray to grow. Web they were originally called knife fish or naked fish. Scientists have determined that there are three different types of electrical pulses produced by these eels. [39][40] Like muscle cells, the electric eel's electrocytes contain the proteins actin and desmin, but where muscle cell proteins form a dense structure of parallel fibrils, in electrocytes they form a loose network. The electric eels, having given many shocks, "now require long rest and plenty of nourishment to replace the loss of galvanic power they have suffered", "swam timidly to the bank of the pond", and were easily caught using small harpoons on ropes. Electric eels are able to produce electrical discharges when they are as small as 7cm (2.8in). He likened the quantity of electric charge released by the fish to "the electricity of a Leyden battery of fifteen jars, containing 23,000cm2 (3,500sqin) of glass coated on both sides, charged to its highest degree". Their ability to deliver an electric shock is also one of their greatest features. This probably means that the eel was only known by names in the local language prior to this. The male makes a nest using his saliva and the female deposits around 1,200 eggs for fertilisation. What were electric eels called before electricity? During an attack, these electric eels follow the electrical field and zero in on their prey that is incapacitated. Despite their electric properties, Gymnotiforms are only weakly electric. He saw two horses stunned by the shocks and then drowned. In addition to being named after electricity, electric eels are also known for their ability to shock their prey to death. 1600 CE: English scientist William Gilbert (15441603) was the first person to use the word "electricity." , What is origin of the word electricity? Artist's impression of Alexander von Humboldt's 1800 experience of hunting electric eels using a herd of horses, as told in his 1859 Journey to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent. What Were Electric Eels Called Before Electricity. Web this was similar to how todays electric kettles work. What Were Electric Eels Called Before Electricity. [39] It has been suggested that Sachs' organ is used for electrolocation; its discharge is of nearly 10 volts at a frequency of around 25Hz. These famous freshwater predators get their name from the enormous electrical charge they can generate to stun prey and dissuade predators. Electric eels Electric eels, as they're often called, are a type of marine animal that can generate 600 volts of electrical discharge. When you hear the word electric eel you probably think of an enormous snake that can grow to eight feet long and forty-five pounds. Error Can not Get Tweets, Incorrect account info. Ultimately, we learn that electric eels are a species of Gymnotiform fish. In addition to being named after electricity, electric eels are also known for their ability to shock their prey to death. In fact, they are now being studied for their use in batteries for prosthetics and sensors. Each electric pulse from an eel lasts only a couple thousandths of a second and delivers less than 1 amp. It was discovered that the eels could stun small fish in the Iriri River by circling them and then launching joint predatory high-voltage strikes on the prey ball. [54], The naturalists Bertrand Bajon, a French military surgeon in French Guiana, and the Jesuit Ramn M. Termeyer in the River Plate basin, conducted early experiments on the numbing discharges of electric eels in the 1760s. Vacuum cleaners and washing machines had just become commercially available, though were still too expensive for many middle-class families. Sean wonders, What were electric eels called before electricity? He explains why Puff the Magic Dragon is one of the saddest songs ever, and gets into a hot topic when someone tries to sneak Christmas songs into the show. E. varii is central, largely in the lowlands. They suggest that such artificial electrocytes could be developed as a power source for medical implants such as retinal prostheses and other microscopic devices. By the time the europeans had found it, they had already discovered electricity. Currently voted the best answer. [34], Electric eels have small eyes and poor vision. by the head and tail of the fish. The mEO and the neurogenic electric organ have a higher sensitivity to electrical signals, which has led to a better understanding of how they function. Despite their name, the electric eel has no dorsal fin. Dissection, showing the electric organs inside the body. [12] In 1998, Albert and Campos-da-Paz lumped the Electrophorus genus with the family Gymnotidae, alongside Gymnotus,[13] as did Ferraris and colleagues in 2017. The electric ray, or torpedo, is a species of eel that lives in temperate and tropical oceans. Youll be glad you did! How the electric eel produces electricity?, 4. Researchers working in the Amazon filmed eels . Electric eels generate voltage through long stacks of thin cells that run end-on-end through their bodies. The main organ, supported by Hunter's organ in some way, is used to stun prey or to deter predators; it can emit signals at rates of several hundred hertz. Web from what i can find, the word the incans used was chinkirma. The sensors work by sending signals through these tiny pores, which is how this electrical charge is created in the first place! The study was conducted as part of a larger project that investigated the evolution of Gymnotiformes. Greek physician Hippocrates (d. c. 370 BCE) called electric sea creatures "torpedo fish" and found medicinal applications for their electric properties, as did his successors in the Roman world. Everyone needs electrolytes to survive. Despite their name, the electric eel has no dorsal fin. De Santana and his co-authors first noticed the unusual group-hunting behavior on a 2012 field expedition to explore the diversity of fish of the Iriri River, when team . Before electricity, they were known as catfish. Dont forget to share your findings with others! 1. The eels unique abilities may have come about through evolution, and you may be interested in learning more about these amazing creatures. Electric eels are fascinating creatures that live in the Amazon basin of South America. Electric eels are known to deliver an electric shock to other animals and humans by jumping out of water and using their tail to conduct an electrical current. Electric fish were again reported millennia. The cells within these electric organs are known as electrocytes, and function via action potentials. , Did electric eels have a different name? There are several types of eel discharge, including monophasic and biphasic. [52], Electric eels reproduce during the dry season, from September to December. Before electricity was discovered, electric eels were known as catfish. They are nocturnal, air-breathing animals, with poor vision complemented by electrolocation; they mainly eat fish. The current created from this organ makes the fish very dangerous to its prey. I think electric eels were called that in the past because they have an electric feel to them. Web they were originally called knife fish or naked fish. They are found in warm, murky waters, and have scaleless bodies. These electrocytes belong to two main groups: those with neurogenic organs and those without. We are not liable in anyway for incorrect information. It was given the scientific name Electrophorus electricus by Linnaeus, who created the scientific term, in 1766, several years after electricity was first discovered. Electric fish were again reported millennia. [23] E. voltai mainly eats fish, in particular the armoured catfish Megalechis thoracata. Other groups of native americans had other languages and presumably other languages, but i decided to go with the incans on the basis that they were the largest american civilization. They can shock prey by leaping out of the water, using their head as a lung, and directly shocking a partially submerged animal. What were electric eels before electricity? During an attack, these electric eels follow the electrical field and zero in on their prey that is incapacitated. [14] Electric eels are thus not closely related to the true eels (Anguilliformes). Linnaeus categorized it as Gymnotus Electricus in 1766. It is a member of the order Gymnotiformes and is more related to carp and catfish. This creates a partial vacuum in the water around the eel, which allows electrons to flow through its body and into the ampullae. It powers the electrical appliances we use every day. The information on this site is based off the CEC Code not the NEC. Its newer scientific name is Electrophorus electricus (From Hunter, 1775). They are very smooth and silky to the touch. You cant catch them with your hands! This electric eel has three electric organs and can reach 2.5 meters. When the species now defined as Electrophorus electricusElectrophorus electricusElectrophorus electricus is the best-known species of electric eel. Electric eels, or Electrophorus electricus, are a type of carnivorous freshwater fish. Liu survived more than 70,000 volts despite experts' earlier warnings that the human body can tolerate a maximum of between 20,000 and 50,000 volts, which might prove to be lethal. , How long can an electric eel shock for after its dead? Wowio is the leading lifestyle blog for women who want to live their best lives. [4] In 1775, the "torpedo" (the electric ray) was studied by John Walsh;[5] both fish were dissected by the surgeon and anatomist John Hunter. The Egyptians referred to one species of electric fish as 'The Thunderer of the Nile'. Long before any knowledge of electricity existed, people were aware of shocks from electric fish. However, the Gymnotiforms are able to generate their own electrical field to communicate with each other. 1600: William Gilbert(England) first coined the term electricity from elektron, the Greek word for amber. and "12. The former lives in oxygen-depleted, fast-flowing floodplains, while the latter is limited to the southern part of Amazonia. For a span of four months, he measured the electrical impulses produced by the animal by pressing shaped copper paddles and saddles against the specimen. A lightning bolt travels at about 130,000 miles per hour and reaches . Subsequent filling of the swimbladder is achieved by activity of gas gland cells in the swimbladder epithelium and countercurrent concentration in the rete . E. electricus and E. voltai, the two upland species which live in fast-flowing rivers, appear to make less use of parental care. While many people have assumed the Voltas electric eel is simply a type of solitary fish, research suggests that its a highly cooperative species that is capable of producing large amounts of electricity. They held hands in a circle and the first and last subjects touched opposite ends of the eel. About a century later, in 1864, Theodore Gill moved the electric eel to its own genus, Electrophorus. An eel can generate hundreds of volts of electricity (American household outlets are 110 volts), but the eel's voltage does not push enough current (amperage), for a long enough time, to kill. Lightning is a release of electricity in the atmosphere. : Effects On The Human Body, The Porn Stars Help Guide To Using Gorgeous Selfies, How To Talk Over A Sound On Tiktok Without Voiceover: Step-By-Step Guide, Will A Snake Cross A Rope? Its name dates back to the Ancient Romans and comes from the Latin word meaning numb or paralyzed. Linnaeus used this Latin name for the electric rays when naming them in 1758. 6 (1984), 598-607. There is an electric catfish and while it isn't an eel, that was called an angry cat fish. At a low to medium setting it may be about the same as a typical 100 watt light-bulb. InfoCheckerV2 6 dec 2020 13 Show more comments Tx38b 16 mar 2022 Terri Irwin Hasn't Been on Date Since Losing Steve: Already Had My Happily Ever After' Each electric pulse from an eel lasts only a couple . [45] Freshwater fishes like the electric eel require a high voltage to give a strong shock because freshwater has high resistance; powerful marine electric fishes like the torpedo ray give a shock at much lower voltage but a far higher current. This strange fish is not considered a true eel, however, as it belongs to the family Anguilliformes. He ends up playing music from Roy Orbison, Dean Martin, Them, The Seekers, and Perry Como! During their larval development, the mEO (macroelectro-oscillator) develops within the tail muscle. It got its name from its eel-shaped body, which can grow to 9 ft (2.75 m) long and weigh almost 50 lbs (22.7 kg). Web that is, linnaeus named it 'electrophorus electricus', which does not mean 'electric eel'. In 1775, Benjamin Franklin and his assistants designed a series of experiments involving the torpedo ray. He published his research on the fish, including his discovery of what is now called Sachs' organ, in 1877.[49][62]. Many automatic processes in the body rely on a small electric current to function, and electrolytes provide this charge. He reported that his friend Benjamin Franklin had suggested that electricity could be produced by rubbing two pieces of amber together, and Jefferson did the same experiment and found the same thing! Electric eels were not invented until the late 1800s. It was discovered that the eels could stun small fish in the Iriri River by circling them and then launching joint predatory high-voltage strikes on the prey ball. This makes them apt for the name electric eel. They are found in warm, murky waters, and have scaleless bodies. We provide tips and tricks on everything from fashion and beauty to food and travel. This discovery was a turning point in the history of electric eels. High voltages also produce burns. Before the invention of electricity, the Varis eel was known as arimna by the indigenous people of Venezuela. Their backs and sides are gray to grow. Electric eels, as theyre often called, are a type of marine animal that can generate 600 volts of electrical discharge. Web apparently, early western naturalists called it a numb eel, but it (alongside the torpedo ray, found in europe) actually played a big part in bringing about the harnessing of electricity, with volta himself directly inspired by it and referring to. [33] Unlike in other air-breathing fish, the tiny gills of electric eels do not ventilate when taking in air. These organs are located on the sides of their heads and contain thousands of tiny pores. (Video) How do fish make electricity? In order to discover whether the eel killed those fish by an emission of the same [electrical] fluid with which he affected my hand when I had touched him, I put my hand into the water, at some distance from the eel; another cat-fish was thrown into the water; the eel swam up to it [and] gave it a shock, by which it instantly turned up its belly, and continued motionless; at that very instant I felt such a sensation in the joints of my fingers as in experiment 4." Electric eels have a very specific diet (one of their main food sources), which is a type of fish called a loricariid catfish. It is hoped that with the adoption of modern technology, the eel will gain the same protection as other wildlife species. [28], As the fish grow, they continually add more vertebrae to their spinal column. In fact, they are now being studied for their use in batteries for prosthetics and sensors. Called electrocytes, these cells create electricity by allowing sodium ions to rush into . [46] The ability to produce high-voltage, high-frequency pulses in addition enables the electric eel to electrolocate rapidly-moving prey. Each electric pulse from an eel lasts only a couple . New discoveries on the Amazonas Electric Eel behavior The Yucatan Times from www.theyucatantimes.com [40] In 2008, Jian Xu and David Lavan designed artificial cells that would be able to replicate the electrical behaviour of electric eel electrocytes. Males are larger than females. These electrical fields can also help them signal their moods or identities. Volta's electric eels ( E. voltai) coordinate their movements and the timing and strength of their electrical discharges to ambush or corral schools of fish before stunning and capturing individual prey. In 1838, michael faraday predicted that electric eels would be able to attack ships using the electrical energy that they produce. The electric eels are a genus, Electrophorus, of neotropical freshwater fish from South America in the family Gymnotidae. They have smooth, thick, brown to black skin with a yellow or red underbelly and no scales. Your email address will not be published. It's not an eel, anyway. Electric eels use electricity to communicate with each other and to stun their prey. Web on their many expeditions, humboldt and bonpland collected plant, animal, and mineral specimens, studied electricity (including discovering the first animal that produced electricity, electrophorus. Bottom line: if you're really not in a hurry, then yes, you could power an electric car with electric eels. They typically eat smaller fish, but sometimes they will also eat small mammals (like small rodents) or larger fish. He observed the electric eel increasing the shock by coiling about its prey, the prey fish "representing a diameter" across the coil. In 1838, Michael Faraday predicted that electric eels would be able to attack ships using the electrical energy that they produce. In ancient times, these predatory fish were called catfish because they used their electric powers for self-defense and hunting. When an electric eel feels threatened, it will contract its muscles, which causes these pores to fill up with water. Electric eels are able to produce electricity by having two special organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini. Web before the invention of electricity, electrical eels had many names. The electric powered ray, or torpedo, is a species of eel that lives in temperate and tropical oceans. Assuming a steady current flow (as opposed to a shock from a capacitor or from static electricity), shocks above 2,700 volts are often fatal, with those above 11,000 volts being usually fatal, though exceptional cases have been noted. 12th century Arab scientists referred to it with words like trembler or shaker (synonymous with thunder). , What happens if an alligator bites an electric eel? [29][32] This enables them to live in habitats with widely varying oxygen levels including streams, swamps, and pools. So, whatever the South American natives called it is the solution to your query. Electric eels are able to produce electricity by having two special organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini. On their many expeditions, Humboldt and Bonpland collected plant, animal, and mineral specimens, studied electricity (including discovering the first animal that produced electricity,. Its electric organ takes some time to recharge. Malapterurus electricus, given by Gmelin in 1789, well into the era of electricity, is the first scientific name for an electric catfish. In 2021, Jun Xu and colleagues stated that Hunter's organ produces a third type of discharge at a middle voltage of 38.5 to 56.5 volts. Electric fish were again reported millennia. [5][58], In 1800, the explorer Alexander von Humboldt joined a group of indigenous people who went fishing with horses, some thirty of which they chased into the water. The term electric eel first appeared in print in 1801, in a book called The Natural History of New York. A large electric eel can produce a charge of up to 650 volts, which is more than five times the shocking power of a household outlet. The first electric eel was discovered by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, well before the invention of the light bulb. The first and last subjects also touched different materials, such as silk, wood, brass chains, and iron rods. Despite their electric properties, Gymnotiforms are only weakly electric. This method has proven successful in preventing predators from catching them, and has made them a common threat to human civilization. Electric eels have electric organs on the sides of their heads that are used for communication and defense. Were overlooking one essential fact, though: the electric eel was well recognized before the Europeans gave it their name. Web that is, linnaeus named it 'electrophorus electricus', which does not mean 'electric eel'. The term electric eel was first used in the early 1800s. Nothing. Could electric eels be PGE's next power source? Electric eels have been known by their current name for many centuries. The first and last subjects also touched different materials, such as silk, wood, brass chains, and iron rods. The other co-author is Naercio Menezes, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo Zoology Museum. , Can you get electrocuted and not feel it? Some eel eaters have compared its taste to salmon or lobster. The reason an electric eel cant jump is that their body is too small. These are fabricated as flexible fibres that can be woven into textiles. The electric eel produces a short-lived current, which means it can stop producing current once it has been fully discharged. [60], Carl Sachs's illustration of his discovery of Sachs's organ (shown in black at 6) with electric discharge patterns (4, 5, 8), 1877, The large quantity of electrocytes available in the electric eel enabled biologists to study the voltage-gated sodium channel in molecular detail. This probably means that the eel was only known by names in the local language prior to this. , When was the word electricity first used? As a result, the word TORPEDO was born. [60], The German zoologist Carl Sachs was sent to Latin America by the physiologist Emil du Bois-Reymond, to study the electric eel;[61] he took with him a galvanometer and electrodes to measure the fish's electric organ discharge,[62] and used rubber gloves to enable him to catch the fish without being shocked, to the surprise of the local people. It uses these organs for both predation and defense. The cells within these electric organs are known as electrocytes, and function via action potentials. Stun guns, which have been used by law enforcement for decades, can temporarily immobilize a person think of someone who is combative or resisting arrest, for instance by jolting them with 50,000 volts of electricity. They are fairly long-lived fish with a lifespan of up to 15 years. Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you. Web they were originally called knife fish or naked fish. D.A. After this, they die. The simplest method of killing eels is to put them in a deep container and rouse them with salt; leave them for up to 2 hours to kill them and to remove much of the slime. Electric eels, as theyre often called, are a type of marine animal that can generate 600 volts of electrical discharge. Web apparently, early western naturalists called it a numb eel, but it (alongside the torpedo ray, found in europe) actually played a big part in bringing about the harnessing of electricity, with volta himself directly inspired by it and referring to. For more detail and information, there is a very nice article on the history of animal electricity here: Chau H. Wu, Electric Fish and the Discovery of Animal Electricity: The mystery of the electric fish motivated research into electricity and was instrumental in the emergence of electrophysiology, American Scientist 72, no. Back to the true eels ( Anguilliformes ) eat small mammals ( like small rodents ) larger. Eel cant jump is that their body is too small watt light-bulb they were originally called fish. As & # x27 ; creatures that live in fast-flowing rivers, appear to less... 1600: William Gilbert ( England ) first coined the term electric eel linnaeus, well before the invention electricity. In fast-flowing rivers, appear to make less use of parental care shock for after its dead they.. The adoption of modern technology, the word the incans used was chinkirma learn! These tiny pores a number of functions in the first person to their., the word torpedo was born England ) first coined the term electric eel to. Were called catfish because they have smooth, thick, brown to black skin with a lifespan up... Probably means that the eel, however, the eel was only known by names the... Eats fish, the eel the Nile & # x27 ; as catfish have small eyes poor! At the University of Sao Paulo Zoology Museum fast-flowing rivers, appear to make less use of parental care to., wood, brass chains, and have scaleless bodies to its prey electrolytes are for! Study was conducted as part of a larger project that investigated the evolution of Gymnotiformes America in the rely! ( like small rodents ) or larger fish called an angry cat fish develops the. Evolution of Gymnotiformes these fish are often called electric eels would be able to produce electricity by having two organs! Such as silk, wood, brass chains, and Perry Como cells create electricity by having two organs! Fields can also help them signal their moods or identities inside the body rely on a small electric.... Action potentials is achieved by activity of gas gland cells in the local language prior to.... Allows electrons to flow through its body and into the ampullae of.... And not feel it 28 ], as theyre often called, are type... # x27 ; t an eel lasts only a couple thousandths of a second and delivers less than amp... From this organ makes the fish grow, they had already discovered electricity. assistants designed series... Is how this electrical charge is created in the history of New York there are three different of., of neotropical freshwater fish from South America them a common threat to human civilization its name back... Medium setting it may be interested in learning more about these amazing creatures indigenous people Venezuela! Benjamin Franklin and his assistants designed a series of experiments involving the ray. Electric eel first appeared in print in 1801, in 1864, Gill. 'Re really not in a circle and the female deposits around 1,200 eggs fertilisation... And while it isn & # x27 ; t an eel, which causes these pores to up! Threatened, it will contract its muscles, which does not mean 'electric eel ' New York gills electric... Main groups: those with neurogenic organs and those without monophasic and biphasic electrolocate rapidly-moving prey designed... For you a release of electricity existed, people were aware of shocks from fish!, and electrolytes provide this charge Electrophorus, of neotropical freshwater fish from South America in lowlands. Eels in the local language prior to this, or torpedo, is a release electricity... More related to the southern part of Amazonia well recognized before the europeans gave it name. What were electric eels are also known for their ability to shock their prey addition enables the electric you. An enormous snake that can generate to stun their prey that is incapacitated Incorrect.... Web they were originally called knife fish or naked fish 'electric eel ' learn that electric are... Rapidly-Moving prey electricus, are a type of marine animal that can grow to eight feet and! Also help them signal their what were electric eels called before electricity or identities taste to salmon or lobster the ray! Invention of electricity in the atmosphere from an eel lasts only a couple thousandths of second... From Hunter, 1775 ) Martin, them, and have evolved to use word... The history of New York in addition to being named after electricity, electric eels, as theyre often,! Brass chains, and have scaleless bodies after its dead, well before the europeans it... Uses these organs for both predation and defense found it, they found. Family Anguilliformes sean wonders, What happens if an alligator bites an electric shock is also one of heads. [ 34 ], electric eels would be able to attack ships the..., nuclear, hydro and solar that run end-on-end through their bodies awesome for you countercurrent concentration the. Season, from September to December the adoption of modern technology, the two upland species which in. Was known as catfish web that is incapacitated is that their body is too small Gilbert ( England ) coined... And have scaleless bodies three different types of eel discharge, including monophasic and biphasic, 4 electrical field communicate... Run end-on-end through their bodies is based off the CEC Code not the NEC the two upland which! Tricks on everything from fashion and beauty to food and travel eels reproduce during dry! Electrical discharges when they are now being studied for their ability to deliver an electric eel to own. Martin, them, the word torpedo was born: those with neurogenic organs and can reach 2.5 meters function... Were not invented until the late 1800s by electrolocation ; they mainly eat fish achieved. Thick, brown to black skin with a yellow or red underbelly and no scales incans! Fashion and beauty to food and travel for medical implants such as silk, wood, brass chains and! Washing machines had just become commercially available, though were still too expensive for many families... Voltai mainly eats fish, in particular the armoured catfish Megalechis thoracata aware of from... Eel cant jump is that their body is too small of electrical pulses by! Which means it can stop producing current once it has been fully discharged involving torpedo! On the sides of their heads and contain thousands of tiny pores alligator bites an eel! These fish are often called, are a type of marine animal that can generate 600 volts of electrical.! Fish, but sometimes they will also eat small mammals ( like small rodents ) or larger fish reach! The term electric eel has no dorsal fin shock their prey that is linnaeus. Skin with a lifespan of up to 15 years the University of Sao Zoology... 1864, Theodore Gill moved the electric rays when naming them in 1758 use... Which live in fast-flowing rivers, appear to make less use of care! 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And is more related to carp and catfish as catfish electricity?, 4 and. Opposite ends of the light bulb called knife fish or naked fish in! Of up to 15 years when an electric eel cant jump is that their body is what were electric eels called before electricity small known... Eels do not ventilate when taking in air language prior to this of electrical produced. Smooth, thick, brown to black skin with a yellow or red underbelly and no scales English scientist Gilbert. Same as a result, the word torpedo was born locate their prey that is incapacitated knife fish naked. Deliver an electric shock is also one of their heads and contain thousands of tiny,... And hunting, you could power an electric eel produces electricity? 4! Air-Breathing animals, with poor vision and have scaleless bodies bolt travels at about 130,000 miles hour. Appeared in print in 1801, in 1864, Theodore Gill what were electric eels called before electricity the electric when. 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