電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)雖名(ming)為“鰻(man)(man)”,但并(bing)不是(shi)(shi)鰻(man)(man)的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)種,它在生物分類上和鯰魚更為接近,皆置(zhi)于(yu)骨鰾(biao)總目之下(xia)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)的(de)(de)(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)力(li)(li)來自于(yu)它特化的(de)(de)(de)肌肉(rou)(rou)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)所(suo)構成的(de)(de)(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體。肌肉(rou)(rou)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)幾乎(hu)都能(neng)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian),占其身長的(de)(de)(de)80%以上,有數(shu)以千(qian)計的(de)(de)(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)的(de)(de)(de)頭部是(shi)(shi)負極,尾部是(shi)(shi)正極,每個放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體約可制造(zao)0.15伏特的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya),而(er)當數(shu)千(qian)個放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體一(yi)(yi)(yi)起全力(li)(li)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)便(bian)高達600~800伏特,但這(zhe)種高電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)只能(neng)維持非常(chang)短暫的(de)(de)(de)時(shi)間,而(er)且放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)力(li)(li)會(hui)隨(sui)著疲勞或(huo)衰(shuai)老的(de)(de)(de)程(cheng)度而(er)減退。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)能(neng)自由控制要放(fang)(fang)(fang)出什么程(cheng)度的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)(li),一(yi)(yi)(yi)般認為電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)放(fang)(fang)(fang)出低電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)的(de)(de)(de)目的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)在警告、試(shi)探(tan)或(huo)偵測。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻體內(nei)有一(yi)些細胞(bao)就像小(xiao)型的(de)(de)(de)疊(die)層電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi),當(dang)它被(bei)神經信(xin)號所激(ji)勵時,能(neng)陡然(ran)使離子流(liu)通過它的(de)(de)(de)細胞(bao)膜(mo)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻體內(nei)從(cong)頭(tou)到(dao)尾都有這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)細胞(bao),就像許多疊(die)在一(yi)起(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)(de)疊(die)層電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)。當(dang)產生(sheng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)時,所有這(zhe)(zhe)些電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(每個電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓約(yue)0.15伏)都串(chuan)聯起(qi)(qi)來(lai),這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)在電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻的(de)(de)(de)頭(tou)和尾之(zhi)間就產生(sheng)了很(hen)高的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓。許多這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)組又(you)并(bing)聯起(qi)(qi)來(lai),這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)就能(neng)在體外產生(sheng)足(zu)(zu)夠大(da)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)。用(yong)這(zhe)(zhe)些電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)足(zu)(zu)以將它的(de)(de)(de)獵物或天敵擊(ji)暈或擊(ji)斃。淡(dan)水里(li)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)魚(yu)需要更(geng)多的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)串(chuan)聯在一(yi)起(qi)(qi),因為(wei)淡(dan)水的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)阻較大(da),產生(sheng)同樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)需要更(geng)高的(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)能隨(sui)意放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian),自己掌(zhang)握(wo)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時間和(he)強度,發(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器最主要的(de)(de)樞紐(niu)是器官的(de)(de)神經部(bu)分。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時的(de)(de)平均電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓為(wei)350多伏(fu),但(dan)也(ye)有過650伏(fu)的(de)(de)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)記錄。美洲電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的(de)(de)最大電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓竟達800多伏(fu),這么(me)強的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓足以(yi)擊(ji)死一頭牛。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時產生的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流是極(ji)微弱的(de)(de),一般不到1安培;有時觀察到的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓為(wei)500伏(fu),電(dian)(dian)(dian)流為(wei)2安培,即功(gong)率(lv)為(wei)1000瓦的(de)(de)短時放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。雖然發(fa)出的(de)(de)是直(zhi)流電(dian)(dian)(dian),但(dan)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)頻率(lv)每秒(miao)可達300個脈沖。
放(fang)電(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)損(sun)傷力取決于鰻(man)(man)魚的(de)(de)大小和機體的(de)(de)狀況。當(dang)電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)長(chang)不到1米時,電(dian)(dian)壓隨(sui)著(zhu)電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)的(de)(de)成長(chang)而(er)增加。當(dang)長(chang)到1米后(hou),只增加電(dian)(dian)流的(de)(de)強(qiang)度。電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)每秒鐘能放(fang)電(dian)(dian)50次,但連續放(fang)電(dian)(dian)后(hou),電(dian)(dian)流逐漸減弱,10~15秒鐘后(hou)完全消失,休息一會后(hou)又能重(zhong)新恢復放(fang)電(dian)(dian)能力。在水中3~6米范圍內(nei),常(chang)有(you)人觸及電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)放(fang)出的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)而(er)被(bei)擊昏,甚至因此(ci)跌(die)入水中而(er)被(bei)淹死。