Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Stacked cells in the fish's body act like a battery to stun prey. The figure is taken from Nature, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a science fact?

Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Electric eels generate hundreds of volts

Stacked cells in the fish's body act like a battery to stun prey Electric eels are not true eels but a kind of knifefish from South American rivers. Thousands of specialised cells called electrocytes sit in series and add their small voltages together. A large individual can deliver a discharge of around 600 volts or more in short pulses. It sits in Mondo's science collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

Nature

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

Go further

Nature & Animals trivia Science trivia

More facts like this

An electric eel can generate shocks exceeding 600 voltsThree specialized electric organs fill most of an electric eel body.Electric catfish discharge electricity using specialized skin organsAn electric catfish can discharge up to 350 volts when disturbed.Lightning bolts are hotter than the surface of the SunA single electrical strike can heat surrounding air to thirty thousand degrees Celsius Superconductors carry electricity with zero energy lossCooled below a critical temperature certain materials conduct electric current perfectly Piezoelectric materials convert mechanical pressure to electricitySqueezing certain quartz crystals generates electrical voltage across their surfaces Silver is the best electrical conductorOf all metals, silver carries current with the least resistance at room temperature

Tags: biology, electricity, fish

Electric eels generate hundreds of volts: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Stacked cells in the fish's body act like a battery to stun prey. The figure is taken from Nature, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a science fact?: Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.