Kenneth Catania, a biologist at Vanderbilt University, has confirmed that electric eels, when leaping out of the water, shock their prey more powerfully. In some cases, the electrical current could even lead to death. Through these findings, Catania also backed up an observation made by Prussian naturalist Alexander von Humboldt back in 1800, who, during an expedition in the Amazon, came across what he said were leaping electric eels that attacked his party’s horses, killing some of them. Although others thought von Humboldt might’ve exaggerated his tale, it turns out it was actually grounded in science.
For more on Catania’s research, read his study here. Watch a video interview with the scientist explaining his findings in greater detail below.
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