The Electric Eel is a species of dangerous knifefish that lives in many parts of the world, including Brazil.
River Monsters[]
Electric Executioner[]
In River Monsters Season 3, Jeremy Wade travels to Brazil's hot and arid wild west to investigate the death of three cowboys. At first it seems illogical that an electric eel could kill all three at the same time, however, Jeremy finds more details that prove it was the culprit. These include the victims clenching grass in their hands, a result of electric shock. They were thrown off their horses once the eel discharged on the horses after the horses presumably trod over it.
When Jeremy catches an electric eel in a mudpit, he is extra careful. The muddy water was so shallow that the animal could be seen from outside the pond. Soon after Jeremy releases it, he sees twenty or so eels bunched up in a spaghetti-like wad. This reveals that perhaps the horses trod on one of these masses and got stunned throwing, the cowboys in, where all three were electrocuted to death by the deadly bundle.
Jungle Terminator[]
The electric eel shows up again in a much less hot and dusty part of South America in Season 6 where Jeremy investigates multiple attacks with similar features. The episode progresses with Jeremy then investigating how the Matis Tribe can touch electric eels without getting shocked. In the end he touches one that the tribe caught, but with gloves on. However the tribe was able to hold it with bare hands, much to the astonishment of Jeremy.
Description[]
Despite its name, the electric eel is actually not an eel. It is a knifefish closely related to the catfish, a type of Gymnotiform. It is up to 2 meters long and has a dark brown top and an orange belly. It can deal a brutal shock if touched.
Trivia[]
- This fish is featured on Jeremy's Favorite Moments YouTube video, a video created to celebrate the River Monsters YouTube Channel getting 1 Million Subscribers.
See Also[]
Gallery[]
The mud pit where Jeremy catches the eel.
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