Electrophorus voltai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Electrophorus voltai |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
The Electrophorus voltai, also known as the Volta's Electric Eel, is a special type of electric eel. It lives in rivers and streams across South America. This amazing creature is known for making the strongest bioelectricity (electricity made by living things) found in nature.
Contents
Discovering the Volta's Electric Eel
For a long time, scientists thought there was only one type of electric eel. This species was called Electrophorus electricus. But in 2019, scientists looked closely at electric eels again. They found that the Volta's Electric Eel was actually a different species.
How Scientists Found a New Species
Scientists studied the eels' DNA and the amount of voltage (electric power) they could produce. They found big differences. These differences showed that Electrophorus voltai and another species, E. varii, were unique. Scientists believe E. voltai became a separate species millions of years ago.
Named After a Famous Scientist
This eel is named after Alessandro Volta. He was a famous physicist from Italy. Volta is known for inventing the first electric battery. It's a fitting name for an animal that creates so much electricity!
Where the Volta's Electric Eel Lives
The Volta's Electric Eel prefers to live in higher areas. You can find it mainly in rivers that flow north from the Amazonian Craton (a very old landmass in Brazil). It also lives in some rivers that flow south from the Guiana Shield. In some of these rivers, it shares its home with E. varii, another electric eel species.
What the Volta's Electric Eel Looks Like
The Volta's Electric Eel looks a lot like E. electricus. However, there are small differences in its head. Its skull is a bit flatter, and its head is wider.
The Strongest Electric Shock
This eel can produce an incredible 860 volts of electricity. This makes it the strongest bioelectricity generator among all three electric eel species. It's also the strongest of any animal known on Earth! Male Volta's Electric Eels grow larger than females. They can be about 35 centimeters (14 inches) longer.
How the Volta's Electric Eel Behaves
In 2021, scientists made an exciting discovery about E. voltai. They saw these eels hunting together in groups. This was the first time scientists had ever seen electric eels pack hunting. This amazing behavior was observed at the mouth of the Iriri River in Brazil.
