Shocking behavior

This print story appeared in the September 2020 issue of National Geographic magazine.

Featuring the research of Dr. David Santana of the Smithsonian Institution and his collaborators, the graphic presented, for the first time, fascinating insights into the animals’ evolution, distribution, hunting behavior, and anatomy.

Eighty percent of an eel’s body is made up of electric organs composed of thousands of specialized cells. With powerful discharges, they stun their prey and defend themselves from predators. This represents a unique use of electricity, as other electric fish typically use it only for navigation and communication.

Explore the online version of this graphic (which may be behind a paywall), featuring remarkable videos of large groups of eels discharging high-voltage signals to hunt small prey fish.