You're wading in a pond
in the Amazon Rainforest
when something slimy
brushes against your leg.
Then you feel another one.
And another.
You look down to see you're surrounded
by a swarm of electric eels,
and they do not seem friendly.
This is
Electric eels can discharge
up to 650 volts of electricity.
That's over five times the voltage
of an American power outlet.
If you think that sounds bad,
take a closer look
at the eels surrounding you.
Those are Volta electric eels,
known to pack an 860-volt punch.
That's the strongest electrical discharge
of any animal.
They have been known to knock an
entire horse off its feet with a shock.
They're called eels,
but these creatures belong
to a family called knifefish.
There are only three species.
Linnaeus's electric eels,
and Vari's electric eel,
need to be close to their prey to attack.
But you like to live on the edge,
so we saved this one for you.
It's Volta's electric eel.
And, lucky you,
there's a swarm of them around you.
How are you going to survive
an electric eel attack?
If you're going to visit
Brazil's Amazon River basin,
bring other people with you.
On average, electric eels range
from 1.8 to 2.5 m (6-8 ft)
and weigh around 20 kg (44 lb).
And 80% of their bodies
are electric organs,
with about 6,000 specialized cells
that store their power.
And the newly-discovered Volta's eel
packs up to 860 volts,
200 volts more than
other electric eels.
Although scientists used to think
eels were solitary creatures,
researchers have seen Volta's eels
working together to attack their prey,
hunting in swarms of
100 or more eels.
If they attack,
you could get hit with a lot of voltage.
If you are shocked,
it could make you unconscious.
You could drown in the water.
So, someone needs to be there
to pull you out and save your life.
The fish have a low amperage,
so one electric shock
probably wouldn't be enough to kill you.
But if a swarm of electric eels attacks you,
multiple shocks could be dangerous.
Having friends there to pull you out
of the water could help you survive.
You're swimming in the Amazon River,
minding your own business.
But then,
the long, sinuous form
of an electric eel swims in front of you.
There are a few things
in your favor though.
First,
electric eels are more
scared of you than you are of them.
And they have terrible eyesight.
So, take a deep breath,
and don't attract their attention.
We all get hungry.
So, if an electric eel does attack you,
being healthy could improve
your chance of surviving.
The better shape you are in,
the more likely you are to resist
being shocked into cardiac arrest.
That could be a death sentence,
especially when you're swimming.
So, before you head for areas
where electric eels live,
head to the gym and get in shape.
If a swarm of electric eels
is swimming with you,
or passing by,
it's a good idea to give them some space.
So look for an opening in the swarm,
and slowly head toward land.
And watch out for the eel's tail.
It's the most dangerous part,
because that's where its powerful
electric organ is located.
But even on land, you'll need to be careful.
Electric eels breathe air,
so they have to come to the surface.
Try to resist temptation,
and don't look in the water.
Even staring in the water
could get you zapped.
While their shocks are enough
to keep you away,
they are equally dangerous to other eels.
They can shock each other accidentally.
And if they get hit near their organs,
it will kill them instantly.
So while these are powerful creatures,
their lives are full of risk.
But now that you're safely
out of the water,
what do you do if you discover
you're face-to-face
with a cheetah?
To find out, check out
How to Survive a Cheetah Attack.