Question

Why do electric eels make short doublets of electric discharges when searching for hidden prey? Electric discharges prime the eel's muscles for attacking the prey Doublets elicit muscle twitches that give away the prey's location Doublets cause fish muscles to clench, effectively stunning the prey Electric discharges are used for electrolocation

Answer 1

The correct option is B). doublets elicit muscle twitches that give away the prey’s location.

From various experiments it was found that when the location and the identity of the prey is known i.e. when the prey is in close proximity and is already perceived by the eel, the eel produces a high voltage powerful electric discharge which stun or paralyze the prey. But when the prey is hidden, the eel produce the doublet which elicits muscles twitches. Due to this the prey respond, revealing the location of the prey. If the prey twitches, then only the eel produce the high voltage electric discharge to stun the prey. In the absence of twitches, the eel doesn’t attack.