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Unexpected species diversity in electric eels with a description of the strongest living bioelectricity generator

Author

Listed:
  • C. David de Santana

    (Division of Fishes, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MCR 159, National Museum of Natural History, PO Box 37012, Smithsonian Institution)

  • William G. R. Crampton

    (University of Central Florida)

  • Casey B. Dillman

    (Division of Fishes, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MCR 159, National Museum of Natural History, PO Box 37012, Smithsonian Institution
    Cornell University)

  • Renata G. Frederico

    (Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas
    Universidade Federal de Minas Gerias, Institudo de Ciências Biológicas)

  • Mark H. Sabaj

    (The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University)

  • Raphaël Covain

    (Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Département d’herpétologie et d’ichtyologie)

  • Jonathan Ready

    (Laboratório de Lepidopterologia e Ictiologia Integrada, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará)

  • Jansen Zuanon

    (Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia)

  • Renildo R. Oliveira

    (Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia)

  • Raimundo N. Mendes-Júnior

    (RESEX do Rio Cajari, Instituto Chico Mendes da Conservação da Biodiversidade, Macapá)

  • Douglas A. Bastos

    (Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia)

  • Tulio F. Teixeira

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratório de Ictiologia
    Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais)

  • Jan Mol

    (Anton de Kom University of Suriname)

  • Willian Ohara

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratório de Ictiologia
    Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Presidente Médice)

  • Natália Castro e Castro

    (Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi)

  • Luiz A. Peixoto

    (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratório de Ictiologia)

  • Cleusa Nagamachi

    (Universidade Federal do Pará)

  • Leandro Sousa

    (Universidade Federal do Pará)

  • Luciano F. A. Montag

    (Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas)

  • Frank Ribeiro

    (Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Campus Amazônia)

  • Joseph C. Waddell

    (University of Central Florida)

  • Nivaldo M. Piorsky

    (Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Ecologia e Sistemática de Peixes)

  • Richard P. Vari

    (Division of Fishes, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MCR 159, National Museum of Natural History, PO Box 37012, Smithsonian Institution)

  • Wolmar B. Wosiacki

    (Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi)

Abstract

Is there only one electric eel species? For two and a half centuries since its description by Linnaeus, Electrophorus electricus has captivated humankind by its capacity to generate strong electric discharges. Despite the importance of Electrophorus in multiple fields of science, the possibility of additional species-level diversity in the genus, which could also reveal a hidden variety of substances and bioelectrogenic functions, has hitherto not been explored. Here, based on overwhelming patterns of genetic, morphological, and ecological data, we reject the hypothesis of a single species broadly distributed throughout Greater Amazonia. Our analyses readily identify three major lineages that diverged during the Miocene and Pliocene—two of which warrant recognition as new species. For one of the new species, we recorded a discharge of 860 V, well above 650 V previously cited for Electrophorus, making it the strongest living bioelectricity generator.

Suggested Citation

  • C. David de Santana & William G. R. Crampton & Casey B. Dillman & Renata G. Frederico & Mark H. Sabaj & Raphaël Covain & Jonathan Ready & Jansen Zuanon & Renildo R. Oliveira & Raimundo N. Mendes-Júnio, 2019. "Unexpected species diversity in electric eels with a description of the strongest living bioelectricity generator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11690-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11690-z
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