Certain species of some fish types such as eel fish and thornback ray
utilise the electricity produced in their bodies either to protect themselves from their
enemies or to paralyse their prey. In every living being - including man - is a little
amount of electricity. Man, however, cannot direct this electricity or take it under
control to use it for his own benefit. The above-mentioned creatures, on the
other hand, have an electrical current as high as 500-600 volts in their bodies and they
are able use this against their enemies. Furthermore, they are not
adversely affected by this electricity.
The energy they consume to defend themselves is recovered after a
certain time like the charging of a battery and electrical power is once again ready for
use. Fish do not use the high-voltage electricity in their small bodies only for defence
purposes. Besides providing the means for finding their way in deep dark waters,
electricity also helps them sense objects without seeing them. Fish can send signals by
using the electricity in their bodies. These electric signals reflect back after hitting
solid objects and these reflections give the fish information about the object. This way,
fish can determine the distance and size of the object.
