電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)雖名(ming)為“鰻(man)(man)”,但并(bing)不是(shi)鰻(man)(man)的(de)一種,它(ta)在生物分類上(shang)(shang)和鯰魚(yu)更為接近(jin),皆(jie)置于(yu)骨(gu)鰾(biao)總目之下。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)的(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)力(li)來(lai)自(zi)(zi)于(yu)它(ta)特化(hua)的(de)肌肉組織(zhi)所構成的(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)(ti)。肌肉組織(zhi)幾乎都能(neng)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian),占(zhan)其(qi)身長的(de)80%以上(shang)(shang),有數(shu)(shu)以千計的(de)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)(ti)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)的(de)頭部是(shi)負極,尾部是(shi)正極,每個放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)(ti)約(yue)可制造0.15伏(fu)特的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓,而當(dang)數(shu)(shu)千個放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)(ti)一起全力(li)放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓便(bian)高(gao)(gao)達600~800伏(fu)特,但這種高(gao)(gao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓只能(neng)維持非(fei)常短(duan)暫的(de)時間,而且放(fang)(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)力(li)會(hui)隨著疲勞或衰老的(de)程(cheng)度而減(jian)退。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)能(neng)自(zi)(zi)由控制要放(fang)(fang)(fang)出什么程(cheng)度的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li),一般認為電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)(man)放(fang)(fang)(fang)出低電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)的(de)目的(de)是(shi)在警(jing)告(gao)、試探或偵測。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻體內有(you)一些(xie)細(xi)胞就(jiu)像小型(xing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)疊(die)層電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi),當(dang)它(ta)(ta)被神(shen)經(jing)信(xin)號所激(ji)勵(li)時,能陡(dou)然使(shi)離子流(liu)通過它(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)細(xi)胞膜。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻體內從頭(tou)到尾都(dou)(dou)有(you)這樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)細(xi)胞,就(jiu)像許多疊(die)在一起(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)疊(die)層電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)。當(dang)產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)時,所有(you)這些(xie)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(每個電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)約0.15伏(fu))都(dou)(dou)串聯(lian)起(qi)來,這樣(yang)在電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)頭(tou)和尾之間就(jiu)產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)了很高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)。許多這樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)組又并聯(lian)起(qi)來,這樣(yang)就(jiu)能在體外(wai)產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)足夠大(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)。用這些(xie)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)足以將(jiang)它(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)獵物或天敵(di)擊暈(yun)或擊斃。淡水(shui)(shui)里的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)魚需要(yao)更多的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)串聯(lian)在一起(qi),因為淡水(shui)(shui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)阻較大(da),產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)同樣(yang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)需要(yao)更高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)能(neng)隨意放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),自己掌握放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)時(shi)間和(he)強(qiang)度,發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)器(qi)最(zui)主要(yao)的(de)(de)(de)樞紐是(shi)器(qi)官的(de)(de)(de)神經部分(fen)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)平均電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)為350多(duo)(duo)伏,但也有(you)(you)過(guo)650伏的(de)(de)(de)放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)記(ji)錄。美洲(zhou)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的(de)(de)(de)最(zui)大電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)竟達800多(duo)(duo)伏,這么強(qiang)的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)足以擊死(si)一(yi)頭牛。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)時(shi)產(chan)生的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流是(shi)極微弱的(de)(de)(de),一(yi)般不到1安培;有(you)(you)時(shi)觀察到的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)為500伏,電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流為2安培,即(ji)功率(lv)為1000瓦的(de)(de)(de)短(duan)時(shi)放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。雖然發出的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)直流電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),但放電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)頻率(lv)每(mei)秒可(ke)達300個脈沖。
放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的損傷力取(qu)決于鰻(man)魚的大(da)小(xiao)和機體的狀(zhuang)況。當電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)長(chang)不到1米時,電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓隨著電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的成長(chang)而(er)增(zeng)加(jia)。當長(chang)到1米后(hou)(hou),只增(zeng)加(jia)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流的強度。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)每秒鐘(zhong)能(neng)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)50次,但連(lian)續放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou),電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流逐(zhu)漸減弱,10~15秒鐘(zhong)后(hou)(hou)完全消失,休息一會后(hou)(hou)又(you)能(neng)重新恢復放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)力。在水中3~6米范(fan)圍內,常有(you)人觸及(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)出的電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)而(er)被擊昏,甚至因(yin)此跌入水中而(er)被淹死(si)。