[ad_1]
Tokyo (AFP) – Call it a shocking discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of producing a record jolt.
Discoveries demonstrate, say researchers, the incredible diversity of the Amazon rainforest – much of which remains unknown to science – and show why it is so important to protect a habitat threatened with deforestation, logging and fires.
"Despite all the human impacts on the Amazon rainforest over the last 50 years, we can still discover giant fish like the two new species of electric eels," said principal investigator, C. David de Santana, zoologist working at the Smithsonian National Museum. of natural history.
The research "indicates that a huge amount of species are waiting to be discovered in the Amazon rainforest, many of which could harbor curative treatments for diseases or inspire technological innovations," he said. declared to AFP.
The electric eel, actually a kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of the first electric battery.
For centuries, it was believed that only one species existed in the region called Greater Amazonia, encompassing parts of countries such as Brazil, Suriname and Guyana.
But as part of a project to better understand the electric eel and map wildlife in remote areas of South America, de Santana and his team decided to test this misconception.
At first glance, they found little visible difference between the creatures caught in different parts of the Amazon Basin, suggesting that fish were indeed part of a single species.
But further analyzes, including the DNA of 107 samples collected, go back centuries of assumptions and reveal three different species: Electrophorus electricus, as well as Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii.
And their research also revealed another amazing result: E. voltai is able to deliver a shake of 860 volts – much more than the 650 volts previously recorded by electric eels – "making it the most powerful bioelectricity generator known. "
– Hidden Features & # 39; –
The findings, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, assume that the three species evolved from a common ancestor millions of years ago.
The researchers found that each of the three species had a clearly defined habitat: E. electricus living in the Guiana Shield region, E. voltai in the Shield of Brazil, a mountainous region further south, and E. varii inhabiting the waters of the Amazon Basin at low flow.
And they suggest that the particularly powerful electric shock that E. voltai can produce could be an adaptation to life in the waters of altitude, where the conductivity is less effective.
Electric eels use their shock tactics for various reasons, including hunting prey, self defense and navigation.
They generate electricity from three specialized electrical devices that can emit loads of different intensities for different purposes.
But the discovery of new species suggests the possibility that different types of eels have developed different methods of electricity production, perhaps better adapted to their various environments.
De Santana hopes to be able to compare the genomes of the three species, looking for clues likely to provide useful information for various fields.
"The physiology of the electric eel has inspired the design of Volta's first electric battery, provided a basis (…) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and has recently encouraged the development of hydrogel batteries that can to be used to power medical implants, "he said.
Newly discovered species may reveal a "hidden variety" of functions "of interest to the broader scientific community".
[ad_2]
Source link