An Electric Eel’s Unusual Body

An electric eel has an unusual body layout. Nearly all of its most important internal organs are crowded into the front part of its body, which makes up only about 20% of its length.

The other 80% is mainly taken up by three huge electric organs. They are made of thousands of modified muscle cells called electrocytes.

These organs let the fish produce powerful electric discharges for hunting and defense, as well as weaker pulses for finding its way around and communicating.