It’s True: Electric Eels Can Leap From the Water to Attack | National Geographic

the eel has this challenge that when it

the eel has this challenge that when it gives off electricity that electricity

gives off electricity that electricity

gives off electricity that electricity is distributed around the eel in the

is distributed around the eel in the

is distributed around the eel in the water a predator that that is on land

water a predator that that is on land

water a predator that that is on land and reaching into that pool may not

and reaching into that pool may not

and reaching into that pool may not receive very much of a shot you’ve got

receive very much of a shot you’ve got

receive very much of a shot you’ve got this tail from 1800 about Alexander von

this tail from 1800 about Alexander von

this tail from 1800 about Alexander von Humboldt who went to South America to

Humboldt who went to South America to

Humboldt who went to South America to collect electric eels and do experiments

collect electric eels and do experiments

collect electric eels and do experiments on their electrical output

on their electrical output

on their electrical output the electric eels went on the offensive

the electric eels went on the offensive

the electric eels went on the offensive and pressed themselves against the

and pressed themselves against the

and pressed themselves against the horses while shocking them

it shows an eel having essentially left

it shows an eel having essentially left out of the water and pressing its chin

out of the water and pressing its chin

out of the water and pressing its chin against the belly of one of the horses

against the belly of one of the horses

against the belly of one of the horses if you reach in with one hand and touch

if you reach in with one hand and touch

if you reach in with one hand and touch an electric eel while it’s giving off

an electric eel while it’s giving off

an electric eel while it’s giving off its high voltage you don’t feel very

its high voltage you don’t feel very

its high voltage you don’t feel very much if the eel starts to come out of

much if the eel starts to come out of

much if the eel starts to come out of the water with its positive end that the

the water with its positive end that the

the water with its positive end that the chin touching the predator the voltage

chin touching the predator the voltage

chin touching the predator the voltage increases as the eel ascends the current

increases as the eel ascends the current

increases as the eel ascends the current path that would normally take the

path that would normally take the

path that would normally take the electricity back to the water is getting

electricity back to the water is getting

electricity back to the water is getting more and more resistive as the eel

more and more resistive as the eel

more and more resistive as the eel ascends the conductor and so the eel is

ascends the conductor and so the eel is

ascends the conductor and so the eel is leveraging this basic principle to sort

leveraging this basic principle to sort

leveraging this basic principle to sort of turn up the volume on the attack as

of turn up the volume on the attack as

of turn up the volume on the attack as the eel emerges out of the water

each time you see one of those LEDs

each time you see one of those LEDs flash those would be the nerve fibers

flash those would be the nerve fibers

flash those would be the nerve fibers firing in that predator if I use an

firing in that predator if I use an

firing in that predator if I use an insulated glove and then put a

insulated glove and then put a

insulated glove and then put a conductive glove I can essentially

conductive glove I can essentially

conductive glove I can essentially demonstrate this on a small scale

essentially what you’ve got there is a

essentially what you’ve got there is a an electric fence in the form of a fish