Electric organ

Robb Wave Organ console (1937), National Music Centre

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Wersi

967 at Asbury

Footpropelled organ

US580035A Thaddeus Cahill, Telharmonium patent p.04

Robb Wave Organ console (1937), National Music Centre

Electric organ refers to a specialized structure found in certain species of fish that is capable of generating electric fields. These organs are used for various purposes, including navigation, communication, and predation.

Structure

Electric organs are composed of specialized cells called electrocytes. These cells are modified muscle or nerve cells that have lost their ability to contract and instead generate electric charges. The arrangement and number of electrocytes can vary significantly between species.

Function

Electric organs serve multiple functions depending on the species. In some fish, such as the electric eel and electric ray, the electric organ is used primarily for predation and defense. These fish can generate high-voltage electric discharges to stun prey or deter predators.

In other species, such as the knifefish and elephantfish, the electric organ is used for navigation and communication. These fish generate low-voltage electric fields to sense their environment and communicate with other fish.

Types of Electric Organs

There are two main types of electric organs:

• Strongly electric organs: Found in species like the electric eel and electric ray, these organs can produce high-voltage discharges.
• Weakly electric organs: Found in species like the knifefish and elephantfish, these organs produce low-voltage discharges used for electrolocation and communication.

Electrolocation

Electrolocation is a sensory system in which fish use electric fields to locate objects in their environment. Weakly electric fish emit a continuous electric field and detect distortions in this field caused by nearby objects. This allows them to navigate in murky waters where vision is limited.

Communication

Electric fish use electric signals to communicate with each other. These signals can convey information about species, sex, social status, and reproductive readiness. The patterns and frequencies of these electric signals are species-specific.

Evolution

The evolution of electric organs is a fascinating example of convergent evolution, where similar structures have evolved independently in different lineages. Electric organs have evolved multiple times in different groups of fish, including the Gymnotiformes, Mormyridae, and Torpediniformes.

Notable Species

• Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus)
• Electric ray (family Torpedinidae)
• Knifefish (order Gymnotiformes)
• Elephantfish (family Mormyridae)

See Also

• Electrocyte
• Electrolocation
• Electric eel
• Electric ray
• Knifefish
• Elephantfish