Why do electric eels shock?

Answer: Hunting prey and defense

Powering their own muscles — Wrong. Electric eels don't use external shocks for their own muscles—they generate electricity for hunting and defense, not self-powering.

Warming cold water around them — Wrong. Electric shocks don't produce significant heat. Eels generate electricity to stun prey and deter predators, not for temperature regulation.

Hunting prey and defense ✓ — Correct! Electric eels have thousands of specialized cells (electrocytes) that work like batteries in series. They can generate 600+ volt shocks to stun fish and defend against predators like caimans. Lower voltage pulses help navigate murky water (like echolocation). They're living stun guns!