Electric Eel Coloring Sheet

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Learning about Electric Eels is made possible by: journey through the entire Bible as a family with Answers Bible Curriculum for Homeschool by Answers in Genesis, and make math simple and effective with CTCMath for grades k-12.

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Electric Eel Facts

Have you ever been shocked by electricity? It’s definitely not fun—trust me! I once got shocked plugging in a vacuum cleaner, and our poor dog learned a quick lesson when she touched a neighbor’s electric fence. Ouch!

But imagine a creature that uses electric shocks on purpose! Today, we’re diving into some amazing electric eel facts to discover exactly how God designed these fascinating fish.

What Is an Electric Eel?

Here’s something surprising right from the start: electric eels aren’t actually eels at all! They’re called eels because they have long, snake-like bodies that look like true eels, but scientifically they belong to a group of fish called gymnotiformes, meaning “naked back.”

True eels have fins on their backs, but electric eels don’t—they only have an anal fin beneath their body and tiny pectoral fins on their sides. These unique fish live in freshwater rivers and swamps of South America and can grow up to 8 feet long—that’s longer than adults are tall! Electric eels also breathe air every 10 minutes or so because the murky waters they live in don’t have much oxygen.

How Do Electric Eels Make Electricity?

This is one of the coolest electric eel facts: their bodies are like giant batteries! About 80% of an electric eel’s body is dedicated to special organs—called the Main Organ, Hunter’s Organ, and Sachs Organ—that produce electricity.

Inside these organs are thousands of special cells called electrocytes. These cells can create electric charges. Here’s how it works:

• The eel’s brain sends a signal to the electrocyte cells.
• Sodium and potassium enter these cells, changing their electrical charge.
• An electric current or pulse is the result!

What Do Electric Eels Use Electricity For?

Electric eels mainly use their electricity to hunt and defend themselves. They can produce an incredible 600 volts of electricity—enough to stun prey like small fish and crustaceans, or scare off predators. That’s a powerful shock, enough to seriously hurt or even stop a human heart, so it’s best to keep your distance if you ever visit the Amazon!

Interestingly, electric eels are safe form their own shock. Scientists think they have special insulation that keeps them safe from their own powerful electric charges.

God’s Invisible Shield of Protection

Electric eels use electricity like an invisible shield. Did you know God gives us our own invisible shield of protection too? Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.”

Just as electric eels rely on their electricity for protection, we can rely on God’s Word and His presence to protect us. Psalm 18:2 reminds us we can always run to God for safety—He is always near.

The next time you feel worried or afraid, remember these amazing electric eel facts and how their electric shield reminds us of God’s powerful, protective presence. He’s always ready to shield and comfort us!