電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)(man)雖名為“鰻(man)(man)(man)”,但(dan)并不是(shi)(shi)(shi)鰻(man)(man)(man)的(de)一種(zhong),它(ta)在(zai)生物分類(lei)上和鯰魚(yu)更為接近(jin),皆置于骨鰾總目之下。電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)(man)的(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)能力(li)來自于它(ta)特(te)化的(de)肌肉組織所構成的(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)體。肌肉組織幾(ji)乎都能放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian),占其身(shen)長(chang)的(de)80%以上,有數(shu)以千計(ji)的(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)體。電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)(man)的(de)頭(tou)部是(shi)(shi)(shi)負極(ji),尾部是(shi)(shi)(shi)正極(ji),每個(ge)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)體約可制造0.15伏特(te)的(de)電(dian)(dian)壓,而當數(shu)千個(ge)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)體一起全力(li)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)時的(de)電(dian)(dian)壓便高達(da)600~800伏特(te),但(dan)這(zhe)種(zhong)高電(dian)(dian)壓只能維(wei)持(chi)非常短暫的(de)時間,而且(qie)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)能力(li)會隨著疲勞或衰老的(de)程(cheng)(cheng)度(du)而減退。電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)(man)能自由控制要放(fang)(fang)(fang)出(chu)什么程(cheng)(cheng)度(du)的(de)電(dian)(dian)力(li),一般認為電(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)(man)放(fang)(fang)(fang)出(chu)低電(dian)(dian)力(li)的(de)目的(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)警告、試探或偵測。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻體(ti)(ti)內有(you)一(yi)些(xie)(xie)細胞就(jiu)像小型的(de)(de)(de)(de)疊層電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi),當(dang)它被(bei)神經信號所(suo)激勵(li)時(shi),能陡然使(shi)離(li)子(zi)流(liu)(liu)通(tong)過它的(de)(de)(de)(de)細胞膜。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻體(ti)(ti)內從頭到尾都有(you)這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)細胞,就(jiu)像許多(duo)(duo)疊在一(yi)起的(de)(de)(de)(de)疊層電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)。當(dang)產(chan)生電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)(liu)時(shi),所(suo)有(you)這(zhe)(zhe)些(xie)(xie)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(每個電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓約0.15伏)都串聯(lian)起來,這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)在電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻的(de)(de)(de)(de)頭和尾之間就(jiu)產(chan)生了很高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓。許多(duo)(duo)這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)組又并(bing)聯(lian)起來,這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)就(jiu)能在體(ti)(ti)外產(chan)生足夠大的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)(liu)。用(yong)這(zhe)(zhe)些(xie)(xie)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)(liu)足以將它的(de)(de)(de)(de)獵物或(huo)天敵(di)擊(ji)暈或(huo)擊(ji)斃。淡(dan)水里的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)魚需要更多(duo)(duo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)串聯(lian)在一(yi)起,因(yin)為淡(dan)水的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)阻較大,產(chan)生同樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)(liu)需要更高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻能隨(sui)意放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian),自己(ji)掌握放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時間和強度,發(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器(qi)最(zui)主(zhu)要的(de)(de)(de)樞紐(niu)是器(qi)官的(de)(de)(de)神(shen)經部分。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時的(de)(de)(de)平均電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓為350多伏(fu),但也有過650伏(fu)的(de)(de)(de)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)記(ji)錄。美洲電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻的(de)(de)(de)最(zui)大電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓竟達800多伏(fu),這(zhe)么強的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓足(zu)以擊死(si)一(yi)頭牛。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時產生的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)是極(ji)微弱的(de)(de)(de),一(yi)般不到1安培;有時觀察到的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓為500伏(fu),電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)為2安培,即功率為1000瓦(wa)的(de)(de)(de)短時放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。雖然發(fa)(fa)出(chu)的(de)(de)(de)是直流(liu)電(dian)(dian)(dian),但放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)頻率每(mei)秒可達300個脈(mo)沖。
放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的損(sun)傷(shang)力取決于鰻(man)魚的大小和機體的狀況。當電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)長不到(dao)(dao)1米時,電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)隨著電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的成長而增加(jia)。當長到(dao)(dao)1米后(hou),只增加(jia)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流的強度(du)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)每秒(miao)鐘(zhong)能放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)50次(ci),但連續放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou),電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流逐漸減弱,10~15秒(miao)鐘(zhong)后(hou)完(wan)全消失,休息(xi)一會后(hou)又能重新恢復放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能力。在水中(zhong)3~6米范圍內,常有人觸及電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)出的電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)而被擊昏,甚至因(yin)此跌(die)入水中(zhong)而被淹死。