電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)雖名為“鰻(man)”,但并不是(shi)(shi)鰻(man)的(de)(de)(de)(de)一種,它在生物分類上(shang)和鯰(nian)魚更為接(jie)近,皆置于(yu)(yu)骨鰾總目之下。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的(de)(de)(de)(de)放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)力(li)(li)來自(zi)于(yu)(yu)它特(te)化的(de)(de)(de)(de)肌肉(rou)組(zu)織所構成的(de)(de)(de)(de)放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)。肌肉(rou)組(zu)織幾乎都能(neng)(neng)放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian),占(zhan)其身長的(de)(de)(de)(de)80%以上(shang),有數以千計的(de)(de)(de)(de)放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的(de)(de)(de)(de)頭(tou)部(bu)是(shi)(shi)負極,尾部(bu)是(shi)(shi)正極,每個放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)約(yue)可制造(zao)0.15伏特(te)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓,而(er)當數千個放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)體(ti)一起全力(li)(li)放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓便高(gao)達600~800伏特(te),但這種高(gao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓只能(neng)(neng)維持非常短暫的(de)(de)(de)(de)時間,而(er)且放(fang)(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)力(li)(li)會(hui)隨著疲勞(lao)或衰老的(de)(de)(de)(de)程(cheng)度(du)而(er)減退。電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)能(neng)(neng)自(zi)由控制要放(fang)(fang)出什么程(cheng)度(du)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)(li),一般(ban)認(ren)為電(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)(fang)出低電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)目的(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)在警告、試探或偵測。
電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)體內有(you)一些細(xi)胞(bao)就(jiu)(jiu)像小型(xing)的(de)疊(die)層(ceng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池,當它(ta)被神經信(xin)號所激勵時(shi),能陡然使(shi)離子(zi)流通過(guo)它(ta)的(de)細(xi)胞(bao)膜。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)體內從頭到尾都(dou)有(you)這(zhe)樣(yang)(yang)的(de)細(xi)胞(bao),就(jiu)(jiu)像許多(duo)疊(die)在(zai)一起的(de)疊(die)層(ceng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池。當產(chan)生(sheng)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流時(shi),所有(you)這(zhe)些電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(每個電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)(ya)約0.15伏)都(dou)串聯(lian)(lian)起來(lai),這(zhe)樣(yang)(yang)在(zai)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻(man)的(de)頭和尾之間就(jiu)(jiu)產(chan)生(sheng)了很高(gao)的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)(ya)。許多(duo)這(zhe)樣(yang)(yang)的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)又并聯(lian)(lian)起來(lai),這(zhe)樣(yang)(yang)就(jiu)(jiu)能在(zai)體外(wai)產(chan)生(sheng)足(zu)夠大的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流。用這(zhe)些電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流足(zu)以將(jiang)它(ta)的(de)獵物或(huo)天敵擊暈或(huo)擊斃。淡(dan)水里的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)魚需要更(geng)多(duo)的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池串聯(lian)(lian)在(zai)一起,因(yin)為淡(dan)水的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)阻較大,產(chan)生(sheng)同樣(yang)(yang)的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流需要更(geng)高(gao)的(de)的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓(ya)(ya)。
電(dian)鰻(man)能隨意(yi)放(fang)電(dian),自(zi)己掌(zhang)握(wo)放(fang)電(dian)時(shi)(shi)間(jian)和強度(du),發電(dian)器最主(zhu)要的(de)(de)樞紐是器官的(de)(de)神經部(bu)分。電(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)電(dian)時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)平均電(dian)壓(ya)為350多(duo)伏,但(dan)也(ye)有過650伏的(de)(de)放(fang)電(dian)記錄。美(mei)洲電(dian)鰻(man)的(de)(de)最大電(dian)壓(ya)竟達800多(duo)伏,這(zhe)么強的(de)(de)電(dian)壓(ya)足以擊死一頭牛(niu)。電(dian)鰻(man)放(fang)電(dian)時(shi)(shi)產(chan)生的(de)(de)電(dian)流(liu)(liu)是極微弱的(de)(de),一般不到1安培;有時(shi)(shi)觀察到的(de)(de)電(dian)壓(ya)為500伏,電(dian)流(liu)(liu)為2安培,即功率為1000瓦的(de)(de)短時(shi)(shi)放(fang)電(dian)。雖然發出的(de)(de)是直流(liu)(liu)電(dian),但(dan)放(fang)電(dian)頻率每秒(miao)可(ke)達300個脈沖。
放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的損傷力(li)取決(jue)于(yu)鰻魚的大小和機體的狀況。當(dang)(dang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻長(chang)不到1米(mi)時,電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓隨著電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻的成長(chang)而(er)增加(jia)。當(dang)(dang)長(chang)到1米(mi)后,只增加(jia)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流的強度(du)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻每秒(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,電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流逐(zhu)漸(jian)減(jian)弱,10~15秒(miao)鐘(zhong)后完全消失,休息一會后又能重(zhong)新恢復(fu)放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能力(li)。在水中(zhong)3~6米(mi)范圍內,常(chang)有人觸及電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)鰻放(fang)出(chu)的電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)而(er)被擊昏(hun),甚至因(yin)此跌入水中(zhong)而(er)被淹(yan)死。