Life under the sea and waters is something that we can hardly grasp because of its diversity. There are a lot of different animals out there that live in manners that we, as humans, just can’t fathom.
A great example of these interesting aquatic animals is the eel, which is far more interesting than what you are led to believe. Let’s go through these 11 interesting things you probably didn’t know about eels.
- Eel reproduction
This is an interesting fact because even if you do not know this, neither do the top scientists. The process of reproduction of eels is something that still bothers the scientific community. For hundreds of years, biologists were able to identify mating patterns and mechanisms of a huge number of animals, but not animals.
This is a problem that bothered even Sigmund Freud, who was not even a biologist. He thought he could explain this phenomenon, but after examining over 500 eels, he still failed. We do know the life cycle of an eel and how they are born and how they come to reproduce. Eels follow a very strict lifecycle pattern that we can describe. But again, we do not know the intrinsic biochemical mechanisms behind this very interesting life cycle regulation.
- Common electric eel misconception
When people think of eels, they always think about electric eels. Even though there are hundreds of different types of eels, these stuck out the most because of their unique ability. This is a misunderstanding because, in fact, electric eels are not actual eels. The problem of eel classification will be covered later, but for now, keep this in your mind.
- How electric eels shock enemies
Electric eels have certain cells covered with a lot of ion channels called electrocytes, not to be confused with electrolytes. These cells function just like a car battery, as they are physically separated and kept at a very high voltage difference. Once the eel feels threatened, it can discharge an electric zap because of the high voltage difference between these cells that act like electrodes.
- Eels helped us understand the human nervous system
Even though this electric shock ability is pretty interesting, a lot of people miss the greater picture of this. Electric eels, alongside the marbled electric ray, were responsible for helping us understand the basics of the nervous system. All of the cells in the nervous system communicate through synapses that depend on the membrane potential of cells.
- Electric eels are like living batteries
This potential is created by channels that are quite similar to channels that electric eels use. However, in humans and other animals, these receptors are present in very small concentrations. On the other hand, you have an electric eel that has an entire organ full of these receptors. This was an easy source of these receptors that scientists could study which brought us a lot of information regarding our own nervous system.
- Problems with eel classification
If you ask someone how many species of eels exist, you would get an answer of around 800 hundred species. And the discussion could end right there if you talk to a classic biologist. Their whole job depends on making classifications which help us out how exactly? Why would we not say that electric eels are not eels if you see one and it is identical to an eel? Why are jaws such an important determination, when through a biochemical lens, they really are not different?
- Keeping an open mind about eels
Another great example is the slimy hagfish, it is an eel, but some smarty pants decided it is not an eel. Yet, if you were to see two very similar eels, another smarty pants would tell you they are two different species, adding up to 800 ‘’official’’ species. The point is, that eels are a very interesting species and we should not confine our views to satisfy some arbitrary classification schemes.
- Eel meat
If something exists in massive amounts in nature, humans probably tried to eat it. This rule does not escape eels, and eels are still consumed in many countries. And if you think this is just an oriental type of cuisine, it’s far more common than you think. Jellied eels are a great specialty in England, specifically London. There are a lot of Eels in the river Themes, which is why they are eaten in London so much.
Catching an eel from Themes now and making jelly out of it would not be the best idea. If you are looking for a more delicate eel meal, Japanese cuisine has a lot of specialties with eels. These eels are also much different compared to the European eel and their meat is much better, especially when grilled.
- Eel pets
Watching eels slither and go about their days can be quite fun, which is why they are great pets. However, eels should not be your first aquatic pet. They can be dangerous if they manage to bite you and they will not let go. Besides that, eels are not small goldfish that can be kept in small tanks.
- How to keep an eel as a pet
Eels require bigger tanks, which is why some people prefer to make underground eel pits. These underground eel pits are great because they offer a lot of space and offer their natural scenery. Eels are nocturnal and they also like company, which you can bring into the eel pit.
- Eel lifespan
And the last one, which is by no means the least fun or the last fact you will learn about eels. Eels can have quite a long lifespan, American eels can live up to 20 years. However, European eels can live longer than humans with an average lifespan of 80 years. The oldest known European, named Åle, eel lived up to 150 years.
The worst thing you can do in this life is to look at it and not observe its wonders without inquiring about life. If you just close your eyes and surround yourself with a steady and unobserved life, you will never experience the true beauty of living.
Eels are a great example of making us question life with their attributes that we are still trying to understand. Some people would just say, it is just an eel, what is there more to it? However, if you ask that question, you are probably missing more about life than just these 11 interesting facts about eels.
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