♪
Narrator: ELECTRICITY.
WE’VE HAD IT FOR 100 YEARS.
THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR 200 MILLION.
[CLICKING]
THIS IS THE AMAZON’S FINAL FRONTIER--
A LOST WORLD,
WHERE CREATURES HAVE EVOLVED AN ELECTRIC SENSE.
NOW AN INTREPID SCIENTIST RISKS IT ALL
TO EXPLORE THIS ALIEN WORLD OF ELECTRIC FISH.
Man: AH!
AY! HE SHOCKED ME.
[BUZZING]
Narrator: THE AMAZON,
ONE OF THE LEAST EXPLORED PLACES ON THE PLANET.
IT’S BIGGER THAN WE CAN COMPREHEND.
BUT WHAT YOU SEE IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY.
♪
THE REAL ACTION LIES BELOW THE SURFACE...
A WORLD FEW HAVE EVER SEEN...
♪
WHERE CREATURES RULE WITH A MYSTERIOUS SIXTH SENSE.
FISH WITH TECHNOLOGICAL POWERS,
THEY OPERATE IN A BATTLEFIELD
MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE CAN IMAGINE.
♪
[BIRD SQUAWKING]
FOR CENTURIES,
THE AMAZON RIVER HAS LURED EXPLORERS FROM FAR AND WIDE
SEEKING TO DEMYSTIFY ITS DEPTHS.
FOR FISH BIOLOGIST WILL CRAMPTON,
IT’S A TREASURE TROVE OF DISCOVERY
JUST WAITING TO BE UNLOCKED.
HE’S SPENT THE LAST 20 YEARS STUDYING ELECTRIC FISH
AND HAS FOUND MORE THAN 50 NEW SPECIES HERE.
THE AMAZON BASIN IS HOME TO MORE THAN 5,000 SPECIES OF FISH.
BUT IT’S THE ELECTRIC ONES THAT DOMINATE.
THE ENTIRE RIVER PULSES WITH THEIR ENERGY.
IT’S A PERFECT PLACE FOR A FISH RESEARCHER.
Will Crampton: EVERY TIME I PUT A NET INTO THE WATER
I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED
THAT SOMETHING NEW IS GOING TO COME UP,
AND THAT’S, THAT’S, UH,
SOMETHING THAT JUST REALLY KEEPS ME GOING.
Narrator: DESPITE THE NUMBER OF SPECIES
WILL HAS DISCOVERED,
HE WANTS TO DELVE DEEPER
INTO THE STRATEGY BEHIND THEIR ELECTRIC WARFARE.
HE’S GOT JUST THREE WEEKS
TO FIND AS MANY ELECTRIC FISH AS HE CAN,
INCLUDING THE BIGGEST OF ALL,
THE ELECTRIC EEL.
BUT IT WON’T BE EASY.
THE AMAZON RIVER SPANS SIX MILES AT ITS WIDEST
AND PLUNGES 300 FEET AT ITS DEEPEST.
♪
MUD CLOUDS THE WATER,
STOPPING THE SUNLIGHT FROM REACHING THE BOTTOM.
AS A RESULT OF THESE EXTREME CONDITIONS,
THE FISH HAVE EVOLVED SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
THAT ALLOW THEM TO LIVE IN THE DARK.
Will: THE WORLD OF THE AMAZON DURING THE DAY
IS A WORLD OF COLOR AND LIGHT.
BUT AS THE SUN SETS AND IT GETS DARK,
ANOTHER WORLD WAKES UP,
AND THAT’S THE ELECTRIC WORLD.
[CLICKING]
Narrator: ALIEN-LIKE CREATURES EMERGE,
EACH WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE ELECTRIC SIGNAL.
SAND-BURROWING GLASS KNIFEFISH RISE FROM THE DEPTHS.
[BUZZING]
[CLICKING]
THE TAMANDUA GHOST KNIFEFISH.
ITS NAME MEANS ANTEATER.
A FISH WITH SEE-THROUGH SKIN
AND A POINTED HEAD.
ITS TINY EYES ARE VIRTUALLY FUNCTIONLESS.
ELEPHANT-NOSED KNIFEFISH WITH SPECIALIZED MOUTHPARTS.
EVOLUTION AT ITS MOST CREATIVE.
THERE ARE EVEN ELECTRIC FISH
THAT HAVE ADAPTED TO FEED ON THE TAILS
OF OTHER ELECTRIC FISH.
STRANGE AS THESE CREATURES MIGHT SEEM TO THE NAKED EYE,
THEIR WORLD IS EVEN STRANGER.
IT’S A LIFE ELECTRIC.
BY CREATING ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND THEM,
THEY CAN COMMUNICATE AND NAVIGATE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS...
CONVERTED INTO SOUNDS SO THAT WE CAN HEAR THEM.
[BUZZING AND CLICKING]
TOGETHER THEY PLAY LIKE AN ORCHESTRA.
IT’S THIS ALIEN WORLD THAT FASCINATES WILL.
Will: A CORE PART OF MY RESEARCH
IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY SPECIES THERE ARE,
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE THINGS CAME FROM
AND HOW THEY USE THIS INCREDIBLE ELECTRIC SENSE
TO NAVIGATE THEIR WAY AROUND THE WORLD
AND TO DETECT OBJECTS AND TO COMMUNICATE
AND DO THESE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
THAT OTHER FISH DON’T DO.
[THUNDER]
Narrator: ELECTRICITY IS ALL AROUND US.
[BUZZING]
AN INVISIBLE FORCE THAT POWERS OUR WORLD.
♪
EVERYTHING WE DO IS CONTROLLED BY ELECTRIC SIGNALS
RUNNING THROUGH OUR BODIES.
WE CAN CONTROL TOUCH SCREENS
BY ALTERING THEIR ELECTRIC FIELDS
WITH OUR FINGERTIPS.
ALL LIVING CELLS HAVE AN ELECTRIC CHARGE.
ELECTRIC FISH TAKE THIS ABILITY TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
[CLICKING]
THE MOST POWERFUL IS THE ELECTRIC EEL.
IT’S NOT ACTUALLY AN EEL
BUT A GIANT KNIFEFISH--
THE ONLY FISH IN THE AMAZON
CAPABLE OF HUNTING AND KILLING ITS PREY
WITH ELECTRICITY.
ITS WHOLE BODY IS PURPOSE-BUILT TO BE ELECTRIC.
ALL OF ITS VITAL ORGANS ARE NEAR ITS HEAD.
THE REST OF THE BODY IS A GIANT BATTERY.
THE SECRET TO THE EEL’S ELECTRIC SUPER POWER
IS TWO ELECTRIC ORGANS:
THE HUNTER’S ORGAN AND THE MAIN ORGAN.
THEY MAKE THE HIGH-VOLTAGE CHARGES IT NEEDS
FOR DEFENSE AND ATTACK.
THEY ARE PACKED WITH ELECTRIC CELLS,
KNOWN AS ELECTROCYTES,
LINED UP LIKE BATTERIES IN A FLASHLIGHT.
WHEN THIS MEGABANK OF NEARLY A HALF A MILLION ELECTROCYTES
DISCHARGE AT ONCE,
A SHOCK IS RELEASED INTO THE SURROUNDING WATER,
STUNNING ANYTHING WITHIN RANGE.
[BUZZING]
IN LESS THAN A SECOND,
THIS STEALTH HUNTER CAN TURN ITSELF INTO A GIANT TASER,
PACKING A PUNCH WITH UP TO 1,000 VOLTS--
80 TIMES THE ELECTRIC VOLTAGE OF A CAR BATTERY.
ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THE AMAZON’S LARGEST PREDATOR.
[CLICKING]
THIS CAIMAN THINKS HE’S FOUND DINNER,
BUT HE GETS MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.
HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC SHOCKS
CAUSE THE CAIMAN’S MUSCLES TO CONTRACT UNCONTROLLABLY.
PARALYZED, HE’S UNABLE TO FIGHT BACK.
FINALLY THE EEL’S SHOCK SUBSIDES FOR A SECOND,
AND THE CAIMAN MAKES A BREAK FOR IT.
Will: IT REALLY NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME
HOW A FISH CAN GENERATE
THIS INCREDIBLY HIGH VOLTAGE,
AN ELECTRIC SHOCK THAT IS SO POWERFUL
THAT IT CAN KNOCK YOU OVER,
AND LIVE IN THIS DARK WORLD OF ELECTRICITY,
USING ONLY ITS ELECTRIC SENSE IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER SENSES
TO CREATE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORLD.
Narrator: THE ELECTRIC EEL’S INGENIOUS DESIGN
MAY HAVE AIDED EARLY INVENTORS IN DEVELOPING THE FIRST BATTERY.
TODAY’S LEADING SCIENTISTS
STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM ELECTRIC FISH,
AND WILL IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS RESEARCH.
THE SEARCH FOR ELECTRIC FISH TAKES HIM DEEP INTO THE AMAZON.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
FEW WOULD ENDURE THE HARSH REALITY OF THE JUNGLE
ON A DAILY BASIS,
BUT THIS IS WILL’S OFFICE.
FOR A MODERN HUMAN, THIS IS NO TROPICAL PARADISE.
Will: VERY HARD TO WORK IN THE AMAZON.
THERE ARE THE DISCOMFORT CHALLENGES--
THE SUN AND THE TORRENTIAL RAIN.
AT TIMES IT’S ALMOST DEPRESSING.
♪
Narrator: THE AMAZON SYSTEM IS SO VAST,
IT’S TWO-THIRDS THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.
GETTING LOST IS A REAL DANGER.
♪
IT’S THESE EXTREME CONDITIONS
THAT HAVE KEPT THE AMAZON’S SECRETS HIDDEN.
♪
WILL’S CHOSEN THIS LOCATION FOR A REASON.
THE JUNGLE STREAMS THAT ARE OFFSHOOTS OF THE AMAZON RIVER
ARE PRIME ELECTRIC EEL HABITAT.
WILL CONSTRUCTS A JUNGLE LAB
TO RESEARCH THE ELECTRIC FISH HE FINDS
AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE HE CAN STUDY THEIR BEHAVIOR.
Will: THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HAVE IN THE AMAZON,
OTHER THAN AN ITALIAN ESPRESSO MAKER,
BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MOSQUITO REPELLENT.
BUT NOT ALL RAINFORESTS ARE THAT BAD FOR MOSQUITOS.
THERE ARE SOME PLACES IN THE AMAZON
WHICH ARE SURPRISINGLY FREE OF MOSQUITOS,
BUT I HAVE TO GO WHERE THE FISH ARE,
NOT WHERE THE MOSQUITOS AREN’T.
Narrator: WILL HAS ONE MORE SECRET WEAPON
THAT’S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT--
A SIMPLE BUT ESSENTIAL DEVICE
THAT GIVES HIM ACCESS TO THIS ELECTRIC WORLD.
WILL BUILDS A GADGET FOR FINDING ELECTRIC FISH.
AN AMPLIFIER AND LOUDSPEAKER CONNECTED TO TWO ELECTRODES
WILL TURN THE ELECTRIC FISH SIGNALS INTO SOUND.
Will: I CAN FIND FISH, PINPOINT THEIR EXACT POSITION,
AND CATCH THEM
WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THEM.
I CAN EAVESDROP INTO THEIR WORLD,
USING MY ELECTRIC FISH FINDER.
[STATIC]
THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
Narrator: THERE ARE OVER 200 KNOWN SPECIES OF ELECTRIC FISH,
INCLUDING THE ELECTRIC EEL,
AND EACH HAS A UNIQUE ELECTRIC SIGNATURE.
[BUZZING]
THE SMALLER KNIFEFISH ARE SIMILAR IN SETUP TO THE EEL,
BUT NOT NEARLY AS POWERFUL.
THEY DON’T USE ELECTRICITY TO STUN PREY,
BUT TO NAVIGATE AND COMMUNICATE.
LIKE THE EEL,
KNIFEFISH CREATE ELECTRICITY FROM THEIR ELECTRIC ORGAN.
A SIGNAL FROM THE BRAIN OPENS UP MICROSCOPIC CHANNELS,
ALLOWING CHARGED ATOMS AND MOLECULES TO RUSH IN.
EACH ELECTROCYTE
IS NOW CHARGED UP LIKE A TINY BATTERY.
THEIR COMBINED FORCES
CREATE AN ELECTRIC FIELD AROUND THE FISH.
ELECTRORECEPTORS EMBEDDED IN THE SKIN
SENSE ANYTHING THAT PASSES THROUGH THE FIELD.
IT’S LIKE FEELING THE SPACE AROUND YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY
WITH A THOUSAND FINGERS.
THEIR CHARACTERISTIC KNIFE SHAPE
INCREASES THE SURFACE AREA FOR THESE ELECTRORECEPTORS.
AN UNDULATING ANAL FIN ALLOWS THE KNIFEFISH TO SWIM BACKWARDS
AND EVEN VERTICALLY
AS THEY SCAN THE ENVIRONMENT FOR PREY OR PREDATORS,
JUST LIKE AN AIRPORT SCANNER CAN SEE WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS
AND IF IT’S DANGEROUS.
IT’S THESE ELECTRIC FIELDS THAT WILL IS LOOKING FOR.
[BIRD CALLING]
Will: SO, I’M SETTING OUT WITH MY ELECTRIC FISH FINDER
AND A DIP NET
TO LOOK FOR ELECTRIC FISH IN RAINFOREST STREAMS.
AND I EXPECT TO FIND WEAKLY ELECTRIC KNIFEFISH.
I MIGHT FIND THE ODD ELECTRIC EEL.
AND THE REAL PRIZE TODAY IS TO FIND A NEW SPECIES.
THIS IS A NEW AREA, I’VE NEVER WORKED HERE BEFORE,
SO THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE
THAT I MIGHT FIND SOMETHING NEW TO SCIENCE.
[CLICKS PULSING]
THAT RHYTHMIC PULSING
IS WHAT SOUNDS LIKE QUITE A SMALL KNIFEFISH.
[CLICKS PULSING]
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW GOES TO GET THEM.
THEY’RE EXPERTS AT HIDING.
THAT WASN’T VERY, VERY GOOD.
I DON’T THINK THAT ONE GOT IN THERE.
ELECTRIC FISH, ONE; ME, ZERO.
IT’S...VERY DIRTY WORK,
AND IT’S SOMETIMES VERY ANNOYING.
GETTING AWAY.
AAH!
HE’S GIVING ME A RUN FOR MY MONEY.
[CLICKS PULSING]
THIS ONE IS VERY CRAFTY.
IT’S DISAPPEARED.
MISSED IT.
I SAW HIM RIGHT AT THE SURFACE.
DAMN.
WELL, I HAVEN’T CAUGHT HIM,
BUT THERE’S SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE.
OH, VERY COOL!
IT’S A LEAF FISH.
HIDDEN AMONG THE LEAVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STREAM,
HIDING...
IS A LEAF FISH.
AND, UH, THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY FISH.
WHERE IS HE NOW? I SAW HIM A SECOND AGO.
THERE IT IS.
LOOK AT THAT.
OH! IT JUST VIBRATED,
LIKE A CELL PHONE.
THESE THINGS ARE NOT ELECTRIC FISH.
IT’S ACTUALLY MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO A PERCH.
IT’S VIBRATING LIKE A CELL PHONE IN MY HAND.
WHAT THEY DO IS THEY COMMUNICATE WITH SOUNDS, UNDERWATER SOUNDS,
AND THE VIBRATION IS THE SOUND GENERATION.
ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS.
♪
Narrator: NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK LIKE A LEAF;
IT EVEN BEHAVES LIKE A LEAF,
SWIMMING AS THOUGH IT’S DRIFTING SLOWLY IN THE CURRENT.
♪
BEHIND THIS DEMURE DISGUISE
HIDES AN INCREDIBLE AMBUSH HUNTER.
♪
FLOATING SIDEWAYS, IT SNEAKS IN CLOSER TO ITS PREY.
THIS NEON TETRA IS TOTALLY UNAWARE.
WHAT HE THINKS IS A LEAF
IS ACTUALLY A SKILLFULLY CAMOUFLAGED KILLER.
♪
WILL CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR ELECTRIC FISH SIGNALS.
THE FISH FINDER DETECTS A FAMILIAR PULSE.
[POPPING]
Will: THAT POPPING SOUND
IS THE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE OF AN ELECTRIC EEL.
WOW. HE’S QUITE CLOSE.
I SHOULD BE A BIT CAREFUL.
UH...
I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CATCH HIM HERE.
[CRACKING]
OOH. HEAR THAT SORT OF SUDDEN CRACKING SOUND?
THAT’S THE STRONGEST CHARGE.
[CRACKING]
WHOA! OK.
Narrator: HE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL.
THE EEL’S SHOCK IS STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP HIS HEART.
Narrator: WATERLOGGED RUBBER BOOTS
PROVIDE NO PROTECTION FROM THIS LIVING TASER.
Will: BAD SHOCKS ARE NASTY AND ARE TO BE AVOIDED.
ONCE I GOT SHOCKED WHEN WADING THROUGH A SHALLOW STREAM,
AND THAT WAS VERY, VERY NASTY.
Narrator: THE EEL HAS LODGED ITSELF TIGHTLY UNDER THE BANK.
Will: HE’S DEEP INSIDE A HOLE.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I’M GOING TO GET HIM OUT.
THE ONLY THING IS I CAN, I COULD COME BACK AT NIGHT.
HE’LL COME OUT AT NIGHT AND FORAGE AROUND THE STREAM,
MAYBE EVEN GO INTO SIDE STREAMS,
AND I’LL TRY AND FIND HIM AT NIGHT AND CATCH HIM THEN,
BUT RIGHT NOW, NO WAY.
Narrator: ELECTRIC EELS PREFER GENTLE FLOWING STREAMS
TO THE VAST OPEN RIVER
BECAUSE THEIR LOW PULSE RATE
MEANS THEY ARE UNABLE TO TRACK FAST-MOVING OBJECTS.
WHEN NIGHT FALLS,
THESE CALM WATERS WILL TURN INTO AN EEL HUNTING GROUND.
[THUNDER]
IT’S RAINY SEASON IN THE AMAZON.
♪
THE DELUGE DRENCHES THE FOREST,
TURNING THE LEAFY FLOOR INTO A GIANT BOG.
Will: I’M DRINKING DISGUSTING INSTANT COFFEE,
USING COLD WATER.
IT’S MISERABLE, IT’S WET.
HERZOG WAS RIGHT-- IT’S DEPRESSING.
EVEN ON HOT DAYS, WHEN I’M BOILING HOT
AND MOSQUITOS ARE BITING ME OR I GET DRENCHED,
I KEEP GOING BECAUSE IT’S JUST THAT CHALLENGE
OF NEVER KNOWING WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING.
Narrator: THE CONSTANT RAIN MAKES FIELDWORK UNPLEASANT,
AND THE INCREASING WATER LEVELS
WILL MAKE FINDING AN EEL EVEN HARDER.
FINALLY THE STORM BREAKS.
AT NIGHT, EELS COME OUT TO HUNT IN THE SWOLLEN CREEKS.
Will: FISH FINDER.
HEAD TORCH.
AND DIP NET.
I’M READY.
Narrator: WILL IS HOPING TO FIND A DECENT-SIZED SPECIMEN
TO PUT SOME OF HIS THEORIES TO THE TEST.
♪
90% HUMIDITY RAISES THE STAKES.
SWEAT IS A GOOD CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY,
AND ANY SHOCK IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS WHEN YOU’RE WET.
♪
HE RETURNS TO THE EEL’S HIDEOUT.
♪
[CLICKING]
THE ULTIMATE STEALTH MACHINE
IS NO MATCH FOR WILL’S MODERN GADGETRY.
Will: THERE’S AN EEL.
Narrator: NOW ALL HE HAS TO DO IS CATCH IT...
WITHOUT GETTING SHOCKED.
Will: AH. OK.
Man: WHEN DO WE START?
Will: OK, START.
WOW. OH, HERE. YEAH, OK.
Narrator: BIOLOGIST WILL CRAMPTON
IS ATTEMPTING TO CATCH AN ELECTRIC EEL.
Will: OK.
Narrator: SPECIAL ANTI-CONDUCTIVE RUBBER GLOVES
SHOULD STOP THE SHOCK FROM GOING TO HIS HEART.
Will: OK.
♪
AAH!
IT SHOCKED ME.
Narrator: A SHOCK HITS THE METAL NET
AND TOUCHES WILL’S WET CLOTHES,
BUT THIS TIME HE GETS OFF LIGHTLY.
Will: OH! HA HA! AH.
TAKE THAT OFF, YEAH.
WOW, LOOK AT THIS.
Narrator: WITH THE EEL SAFELY IN THE OPEN,
WILL FINALLY HAS A CHANCE
TO GET UP CLOSE TO THIS MYSTERIOUS CREATURE.
Will: THAT’S UNBELIEVABLE.
I MEAN, THAT’S A ONE METER, 20 CENTIMETER EEL IN A STREAM.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS STREAM.
IT’S ONLY ABOUT HALF ITS LENGTH IN WIDTH.
AND...I THINK WHAT MUST HAPPEN
IS THE EELS COME OUT OF LARGER STREAMS
AND COME UP AT NIGHT, HUNTING SMALL FISH.
UH, IT’S JUST INCREDIBLE TO FIND SOMETHING LIKE THAT
IN A STREAM THIS SIZE.
Narrator: MOST FISH CAN’T SURVIVE OUT OF WATER,
BUT THE EEL HAS ANOTHER SUPER POWER.
IT CAN BREATHE AIR,
WHICH MEANS WILL CAN STUDY IT OUT OF THE WATER
WITHOUT HARMING IT.
BUT FOR NOW, IT’S MORE AT HOME IN AN INFLATABLE POOL.
Will: HE’S BIG.
♪
A GOOD PAIR OF THICK RUBBER GLOVES.
THIS IS A REALLY ESSENTIAL PIECE OF KIT
FOR WORKING WITH ELECTRIC EELS.
THESE ONES ARE RATED TO 10,000 VOLTS,
WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
THIS IS PRETTY HEAVY.
IF WE CAN JUST MOVE HIM AROUND HERE...
THESE ARE HIS GUTS,
AND HE, HE DOESN’T LIKE THAT, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT, UM, THE VISCERAL CAVITY IS RESTRICTED TO THIS AREA.
ITS STOMACH, ITS LIVER,
ALL OF ITS VISCERAL ORGANS ARE LOCATED IN THIS AREA.
THE ANUS OF THE ELECTRIC EEL IS LOCATED HERE,
UNDERNEATH ITS CHIN.
IT NEEDS TO DEDICATE AS MUCH OF ITS BODY AS POSSIBLE
TO ELECTRIC ORGANS
TO GENERATE THIS ENORMOUS ELECTRICAL OUTPUT.
Narrator: PERHAPS THE MOST STARTLING FEATURE
OF AN EEL’S BODY
IS HIDING INSIDE ITS MOUTH.
POP IT OPEN,
AND YOU’LL FIND ITS LUNG.
Will: WE’LL TRY AND OPEN UP HIS MOUTH.
IF HE COOPERATES, THAT IS.
THE ENTIRE LINING OF THE MOUTH OF AN ELECTRIC EEL
IS MODIFIED FOR EXTRACTING OXYGEN FROM THE AIR.
ESSENTIALLY IT’S A LUNG.
IN FACT, BECAUSE ELECTRIC EELS BREATHE AIR,
WE’RE ABLE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE WATER
FOR VERY LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
THEY DON’T SEEM TO MIND AT ALL.
HERE WE GO.
SEE, THERE’S A PINK FOLDED LINING TO THE ENTIRE MOUTH.
OOH, HE BIT ME
AND SHOCKED ME AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK,
BUT I DIDN’T FEEL IT THROUGH THE GLOVES.
CERTAINLY FELT THE BITE.
♪
Narrator: THE EEL GETS 80% OF ITS OXYGEN
BY BREATHING AIR...
SURFACING FOR A BREATH EVERY 10 MINUTES.
♪
REMARKABLE AS IT IS TO HAVE A LUNG IN ITS MOUTH,
IT’S A DELICATE STRUCTURE THAT COULD GET DAMAGED BY SPINY PREY.
SO THE EEL HAS A HUNTING STRATEGY
THAT PROTECTS IT FROM INJURY.
IT RELIES ON STEALTH, NOT SPEED.
♪
[CLICKING]
SENSORY PITS ON ITS SKIN
DETECT TINY MOVEMENTS OF ITS PREY.
USING LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRIC PULSES,
HE SENSES A FISH NEARBY.
WITH ITS ELECTRO VISION, THERE IS NOWHERE TO HIDE.
[CLICKING]
[BUZZING]
[CLICKING]
NOW IT’S IN RANGE.
HE PREPARES TO UNLEASH A DEADLY ELECTRIC SHOCK.
CLOAKED IN DARKNESS,
THE ELECTRIC EEL MOVES IN ON ITS PREY.
IT SENDS OUT A HIGH-VOLTAGE SHOCK
THAT STUNS THE FISH...
[BUZZING]
ALLOWING THE EEL TO SWALLOW THE MOTIONLESS FISH WHOLE,
WITHOUT DAMAGING ITS MOUTH.
A CLOSER LOOK REVEALS HOW, AT THE CRUCIAL MOMENT,
THE EEL INHIBITS THE FLIGHT RESPONSE OF THE FISH,
STOPPING IT FROM ESCAPING.
[BUZZING]
THE EEL MIGHT BE THE ONLY ELECTRIC FISH IN THE AMAZON
THAT CAN KILL WITH ELECTRICITY,
BUT IT’S NOT THE MOST BIZARRE.
THE DEEP RIVER ECOSYSTEM IS HOME TO ELECTRIC FISH
WITH EVEN STRANGER ADAPTATIONS.
WILL’S PLANNED HIS TRIP
TO COINCIDE WITH THEIR BREEDING SEASON.
THE BOTTOM OF THE AMAZON TEEMS WITH ELECTRIC FISH
BUSY FINDING MATES AND WARDING OFF RIVALS.
HE USES THE FISH FINDER
TO LISTEN IN ON THEIR SECRET WORLD.
Will: AS IT DROPS DOWN,
I CAN SUDDENLY HEAR A LOT OF ELECTRIC ACTIVITY.
I HEAR TWO OR THREE SPECIES AT THE SAME TIME THERE.
Narrator: ONE HUNDRED FEET BELOW,
MALE KNIFEFISH ARE OUT IN FULL FORCE,
PROTECTING THEIR TURF.
[ELECTRICAL FEEDBACK]
[BUZZING]
THE RIVER IS BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY.
Will: YEAH, THIS IS A VERY, VERY COOL THING TO LISTEN TO,
ALMOST AS BIZARRE AS THE SOUNDS OF WHALES IN THE OCEANS--
JUST A SOUND YOU’D NEVER HEAR ANYWHERE ELSE.
Narrator: BELOW THE SURFACE,
SUITORS SERENADE POTENTIAL MATES WITH THEIR ELECTRIC SONGS.
THE FEMALES PICK THESE UP
THROUGH THE ELECTRORECEPTORS ON THEIR SKIN.
A MALE JAW LOCKER IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A FEMALE.
DURING THE BREEDING SEASON, THE MALES’ JAWS GROW.
THE MORE TESTOSTERONE, THE BIGGER THE JAW.
[HIGH-PITCHED TONE]
HIS CALL HAS ATTRACTED ANOTHER MALE
WITH THE SAME GAME PLAN.
♪
NOW HE FIGHTS FOR BREEDING RIGHTS.
♪
HIS ADVERSARY HAS A THINNER JAW,
BUT HE’S MATCHED IN STRENGTH.
♪
THE IMPOSTER HAS HIM IN A LOCKDOWN.
HE’S LOST THE CHALLENGE.
[HIGH-PITCHED TONE]
HIS PENALTY IS TO CHANGE HIS ELECTRIC FREQUENCY,
GIVING THE VICTOR FREE REIN OVER THE ELECTRIC CHANNEL.
THE INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THE WATER
DOESN’T GO UNNOTICED.
ELECTRIC FISH ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES
THAT THRIVE IN THE AMAZON’S DARK WATERS.
♪
CATFISH AND RAYS HAVE ELECTRORECEPTORS
WHICH SENSE ELECTRIC FIELDS
CREATED BY MUSCLE MOVEMENTS IN THEIR PREY,
ALLOWING THEM TO HUNT IN THE DARK.
THE ELECTRIC FISH ARE SO FOCUSED ON FINDING A MATE,
THEY BECOME EASY TARGET FOR HUNGRY PREDATORS.
COURTSHIP COULD COME AT A COST.
♪
THIS TIME, THE ELECTRIC FISH ESCAPES.
LUCKY FOR HIM, CATFISH DON’T NEED TO EAT EVERY DAY.
WILL HAS SCOURED THE JUNGLE STREAMS AND DEEP RIVERS,
BUT THERE’S STILL ONE MORE ECOSYSTEM LEFT TO EXPLORE.
THE AMAZON’S GIANT FLOODPLAIN IS AN ELECTRIC FISH HOTSPOT.
Will: THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IN THE AMAZON FLOODPLAIN,
THE FLOATING MEADOWS REACH THEIR MAXIMUM EXTENT,
AND THAT’S WHEN THE ELECTRIC FISH
REACH THEIR HIGHEST DENSITIES.
Narrator: FLOATING RAFTS OF PLANT LIFE
BORDER THE EDGE OF THE MAIN CHANNEL.
[CHIRPING]
THEY PROVIDE A HIDEOUT FOR SMALL FISH.
THE FLOODPLAIN IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST FEROCIOUS PREDATORS
IN THE AMAZON.
GIANT RIVER OTTERS HUNT IN PACKS.
WOLVES OF THE RIVER.
WHEN THEY ARE ON THE HUNT, NOTHING IS SAFE,
NOT EVEN THE AMAZON’S NOTORIOUS SUPER PREDATOR.
PIRANHAS CAN RIP PREY TO SHREDS IN SECONDS,
BUT THEY’RE NO MATCH FOR HUNGRY GIANT RIVER OTTERS.
♪
[OTTER BARKS]
♪
OUT OF THE PREDATORS’ REACH,
THE MEADOWS ARE AN ELECTRIC FISH SANCTUARY.
WITH SO MANY OF THEM IN ONE PLACE,
THE CHANCE OF FINDING A NEW SPECIES
BECOMES A REAL POSSIBILITY.
Will: THERE’S NO HABITAT LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
THE ENTIRE RAFT OF VEGETATION
RISES UP AND DOWN WITH THE FLOODWATERS.
THE ROOTS OF THESE PLANTS JUST DANGLE INTO THE WATER
AND EXTRACT NUTRIENTS OUT OF THE WATER
INSTEAD OF FROM THE SOIL.
AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL PLACES
TO FIND ELECTRIC FISH.
THERE ARE ENTIRE SPECIALIZED COMMUNITIES OF KNIFEFISH
THAT LIVE HERE,
AND, UM, THERE’S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY,
INCLUDING MANY SPECIES THAT ARE YET TO BE DISCOVERED.
Narrator: IT’S IN MEADOWS LIKE THESE
THAT WILL HAS FOUND MANY OF HIS NEW DISCOVERIES.
[CLICKS PULSING]
SOME OF THE ELECTRIC WAVE FORMS ARE SO DISTINCT,
HE CAN TELL IF IT’S SOMETHING NEW
JUST BY LISTENING.
[CLICKS PULSING]
Will: I CAN HEAR AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES JUST HERE,
BUT IF WE MOVE THE ELECTRODE OUT INTO THE OPEN WATER,
THERE’S NOTHING.
THEY’RE ALL INSIDE THE FLOATING MEADOW.
[CLICKS PULSING]
Narrator: THE FISH USE DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES,
LIKE RADIO STATIONS.
THIS ALLOWS THEM TO IDENTIFY EACH OTHER
AND AVOID INTERFERENCE.
[CLICKS PULSING]
WILL RECOGNIZES MOST OF THE SIGNALS,
BUT THERE ARE ONE OR TWO HE HASN’T HEARD BEFORE.
[CLICKS PULSING]
Will: OOH, SOMETHING MOVING IN THERE.
HE’S IN THERE. YEP.
AH, FANTASTIC. THIS IS A BIG ONE.
OH, YES, THIS IS A,
THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING ELECTRIC FISH.
LIKE THE ELECTRIC EEL, AN AIR BREATHER.
ACTUALLY FROM THE SAME FAMILY.
WHOA, HE’S GOING TO ESCAPE.
OH.
HERE WE GO.
MAGNIFICENT SPECIMEN.
ONE OF THE BANDED KNIFEFISHES.
Narrator: WILL BAGS IT, READY TO RETURN TO CAMP
WHERE HE CAN STUDY IT FURTHER.
Will: HE’S A LOVELY SPECIMEN.
I SAY HE. IT COULD BE A SHE.
[CLICKS PULSING]
GROUND ZERO RIGHT HERE.
OK.
Narrator: THE MEADOW IS PACKED FULL OF ELECTRIC FISH.
WILL CATCHES AS MANY DIFFERENT TYPES AS HE CAN.
WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIATIONS,
THE ONLY DEFINITIVE WAY TO TELL IF HE HAS A NEW SPECIES
IS TO RECORD THEIR ELECTRIC WAVEFORMS.
[THUNDER]
WILL’S GOT A SCHEDULE PLANNED,
BUT THE AMAZON PLAYS BY ITS OWN RULES.
Will: STORMS ARE A REAL WORRY.
ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS IN THE AMAZON
IS THE RISK OF A TREE FALLING ON YOU IN A STORM.
A GIANT TREE JUST CRASHED DOWN INTO THE RIVER
IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAD JUST PASSED SECONDS EARLIER.
ONE DAY YOUR NUMBER’S GONNA COME UP,
BUT WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING IT RIGHT THEN.
THAT WAS SCARY.
♪
Will: THE STORM’S REALLY MESSED UP THE CAMP.
[BOOTS SLOSHING]
Narrator: WILL STARTS TO ANALYZE HIS CATCH
TO SEE IF HE’S FOUND SOMETHING NEW.
EVERY SPECIES HE FINDS
ADDS TO THE PUZZLE OF ELECTRIC FISH RESEARCH.
Will: YEAH, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
[INSECTS BUZZING]
GOT IT.
Narrator: WILL TURNS A COOLER INTO A MINI AQUARIUM
TO RECORD THE ELECTRIC FISH SIGNALS.
[CLICKS PULSING]
WHAT HE FINDS IS SURPRISING.
ONE OF THE WAVEFORMS IS UNLIKE ANYTHING HE HAS EVER SEEN.
Will: AND THIS SPECIES, WHICH I THINK IS UNDESCRIBED,
I’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE,
HAS A VERY DISTINCTIVE WAVEFORM WITH FOUR PHASES.
IT’S SHORTER, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT’S A HIGHER FREQUENCY.
Narrator: IT’S AN EXCITING DISCOVERY
AND COULD BE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO HIS RESEARCH.
IF THIS IS A NEW SPECIES,
WILL CAN FORMALLY NAME IT AND ADD IT TO HIS LIST,
ALONG WITH THE 50 OTHERS THAT HE’S DESCRIBED.
BUT NOW WILL HAS BIGGER FISH TO FRY.
Will: HERE’S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
424 VOLTS.
424 VOLTS COMING FROM A FISH.
THAT’S PRETTY AMAZING.
THAT’S ALMOST FOUR TIMES THE VOLTAGE
OF A MAINS ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN THE U.S.
IT JUST NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME
THAT A FISH CAN GENERATE AN ELECTRIC VOLTAGE
THAT’S THAT HIGH.
Narrator: WHEN THE ELECTRIC EEL ATTACKS,
IT BLASTS OUT A SERIES OF HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSES.
AROUND 400 PER SECOND.
THEY TRAVEL THROUGH WATER INSTANTANEOUSLY.
ANYTHING WITHIN RANGE WILL RECEIVE AN ELECTRIC SHOCK.
WILL SETS UP AN L.E.D. LIGHT HOOKED UP TO TWO ELECTRODES
TO VISUALLY SHOW HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY THE EEL GENERATES.
[CLICKING]
BUT EVEN THE WORLD’S LEADING EXPERTS ON ELECTRIC FISH
CAN GET SOME NASTY SURPRISES.
Will: AHH! DAMN.
GOT SHOCKED BY THE BLOODY EEL.
OH!
Narrator: THE EEL’S SHOCK
IS STRONG ENOUGH TO GIVE WILL A FRIGHT,
BUT DOESN’T LAST LONG ENOUGH TO HEAT A CUP OF COFFEE.
Will: HE MUST HAVE MADE A LUNGE TOWARDS THE TWO WIRES,
THE TWO ELECTRODES IN THE WATER.
AND I JUST GOT THE FULL BRUNT OF THE SHOCK.
I DROPPED THE CIRCUIT BOARD, IT FELL IN THE MUD,
AND I WAS OUT OF IT FOR A COUPLE SECONDS.
THE THING ABOUT PAIN IS THAT IT’S THE ANTICIPATION OF PAIN
THAT’S THE WORST THING,
SO I ALWAYS TRY VERY HARD TO AVOID GETTING SHOCKED.
I REALLY, I REALLY DON’T LIKE IT.
Narrator: NOW THAT WILL HAS AN ELECTRIC EEL
AND A SMALL ELECTRIC FISH,
HE HAS THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT
HOW THE TWO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.
HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WATER
WHILE THE ELECTRIC EEL IS HUNTING AN ELECTRIC FISH.
HE WAITS FOR NIGHTFALL.
♪
HE’S PUT A SMALL KNIFEFISH IN WITH THE EEL.
Will: THERE’S THE EEL’S PULSING.
[CLICKS PULSING]
THE KNIFEFISH PULSING.
[CLICKS PULSING]
Narrator: AS WILL LISTENS TO THE SOUNDS OF THE HUNT,
HE NOTICES SOME UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR.
Will: THE PREY FISH IS ACTUALLY SWITCHING SIGNAL ON AND OFF.
NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, HE’S SWITCHED OFF.
I HAVE THE ELECTRODE RIGHT NEAR THE PREY FISH,
AND IT’S NOT GENERATING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: AS THE EEL COMES CLOSE,
THE PREY SWITCHES OFF ITS ELECTRIC FIELD.
IT SENSES DANGER
AND CAN HIDE FROM THE EEL BY GOING UNDER THE RADAR.
EVEN IN THE WIDER SURROUNDINGS OF ITS NATURAL HABITAT,
THE EEL HAS A COUNTERMEASURE.
WHEN PREY STOPS SENDING OUT ELECTRICAL IMPULSES,
IT’S INVISIBLE TO THE EEL.
[CLICKING]
BUT BY SENDING OUT A SMALL DOUBLE SHOCK,
THE EEL CAN TRIGGER THE PREY’S NERVOUS SYSTEM,
MAKING IT TWITCH AND REVEAL ITSELF
THROUGH VIBRATIONS IN THE WATER.
[CLICKING]
THE EEL USES ITS SUPER POWER
TO REMOTELY CONTROL ITS PREY’S NERVOUS SYSTEM,
FORCING IT TO GIVE UP ITS POSITION...
♪
READY FOR AN EEL TAKEDOWN.
♪
IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOWHERE WILD LEFT TO EXPLORE,
THINK AGAIN.
HERE IN THE DEPTHS OF THE AMAZON,
WILL HAS UNLOCKED AN INCREDIBLE WORLD OF ELECTRIC POWERS
AND HIGH-TECH COMMUNICATION.
HE’S POTENTIALLY FOUND A NEW SPECIES,
WITNESSED RARE ELECTRIC EEL HUNTING BEHAVIOR,
AND COLLECTED INVALUABLE ELECTRIC SIGNAL RECORDINGS.
Will: I THINK THE, THE THING THAT DRIVES ME MOST
IS UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITY,
MAKING SENSE OF WHAT INITIALLY IS JUST ALMOST CHAOTIC,
BUT WITH TIME AND PATIENCE
AND THE COLLECTION OF MORE AND MORE DATA,
EVENTUALLY YOU START TO SEE PATTERNS.
AND THE LONGER I’VE BEEN STUDYING ELECTRIC FISH,
THE MORE I’VE BEGUN TO UNRAVEL THIS COMPLEXITY,
AND THAT’S TREMENDOUSLY SATISFYING.
Narrator: EVERY TRIP INTO THE RAINFOREST
IS AN ADVENTURE INTO THE UNKNOWN,
INTO A WORLD THAT WE ARE ONLY JUST STARTING TO UNDERSTAND.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE SECRETS LIE IN THIS ELECTRIC AMAZON,
WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED?
♪