Diet composition of the electric eel <i>Electrophorus voltai</i> (Pisces: Gymnotidae) in the Brazilian Amazon region

Oliveira, Marcos Sidney Brito; Mendes-Júnior, Raimundo Nonato Gomes; Tavares‐Dias, Marcos

doi:10.1111/jfb.14413

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Thus, this energetically costly but efficient and complex predatory strike would prevent the engagement of other individuals during foraging. Volta's electric eels ( Electrophorus voltai ) generate up to 860 V during hunting strikes (Santana et al., 2019) on vertebrates and invertebrates (Oliveira et al., 2020) and are typically observed foraging solo at night, when diurnally active prey fish are resting in a somewhat lethargic state in shallow waters. Here, we describe the group hunting of Volta's electric eels, involving over 100 individuals foraging and preying together on shoals of small fishes (Movies ), which we argue constitutes an unexpected case of social predation (Lang & Farine, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social predation in electric eels

Bastos

Zuanon

Py‐Daniel

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Social predation—when groups of predators coordinate actions to find and capture prey—is a common tactic among mammals but comparatively rare in fishes. We report the unexpected social predation by electric eels, an otherwise solitary predator in the Amazon rainforest. Observations made in different years and recorded on video show electric eels herding, encircling shoals of small nektonic fishes, and launching joint predatory high‐voltage strikes on the prey ball. These findings challenge the hypothesis that electric eels may have a single foraging strategy and extend our knowledge on social predation to an organism that employs high‐voltage discharge for hunting. Thereby offering a novel perspective for studies on the evolutionary interplay between predatory and escape tactics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social predation in electric eels

Bastos

Zuanon

Py‐Daniel

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Thus, this energetically costly but efficient and complex predatory strike would prevent the engagement of other individuals during foraging. Volta’s electric eels ( Electrophorus voltai ) generate up to 860 V during hunting strikes 9 on vertebrates and invertebrates 10 and are typically observed foraging solo at night, when diurnally-active prey fish are resting in a somewhat lethargic state in shallow waters. Here, we describe the group hunting of Volta’s electric eels, involving over 100 individuals foraging and preying together on shoals of small fishes (Movies S1-S8), which we argue constitutes an unexpected case of social predation 1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social predation in electric eels

Bastos

Zuanon

Py‐Daniel

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social predation, when groups of predators coordinate actions to find and capture prey, is a common tactic among mammals but comparatively rare in fishes. We report the unexpected social predation by electric eels, an otherwise solitary predator in the Amazon rainforest. Observations made in different years and recorded on video show electric eels herding, encircling shoals of small nektonic fishes, and launching joint predatory high-voltage strikes on the prey ball. These findings challenge the hypothesis that electric eels may have a single foraging strategy, and extend our knowledge on social predation to an organism that employs high-voltage discharge for hunting, thereby offering a novel perspective for studies on the evolutionary interplay between predatory and escape tactics.

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Organization of the cephalic lateral-line canals in Electrophorus varii de Santana, Wosiacki, Crampton, Sabaj, Dillman, Mendes-Júnior & Castro e Castro, 2019 (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae)

et al. 2021

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Electrophorus spp. generate high-voltage electric discharges for defense and hunting, and low-voltage electric discharges (as other Gymnotiformes) for electrolocation and communication. Despite intense interest in the unusual electrogenic and electroreceptive capacities of electric eels, the other sensory systems of Electrophorus spp. are relatively poorly known. Here we describe the ontogenetic development and organization of the cephalic lateral-line canals in the lowland electric eel, Electrophorus varii. Preserved specimens of larvae, juveniles, and adults were examined to describe the spatial distribution of the canals and pores. Ontogenetic shifts of the cephalic lateral line formation were observed for each canal and support a hypothesis of non-synchronized development. The morphogenesis of cephalic canals in larvae and juveniles begins just before the onset of exogenous feeding. In adults, the cephalic sensory canals are formed separately from the skull and overlay cranial and mandibular bones and muscles. This study provides the first detailed description of the development and organization of the cephalic lateral-line system in Electrophorus varii.

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Diet composition of the electric eel Electrophorus voltai (Pisces: Gymnotidae) in the Brazilian Amazon region

Cited by 4 publications

References 20 publications

Social predation in electric eels

Social predation in electric eels

Social predation in electric eels

Organization of the cephalic lateral-line canals in Electrophorus varii de Santana, Wosiacki, Crampton, Sabaj, Dillman, Mendes-Júnior & Castro e Castro, 2019 (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae)

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