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Biomagnetism
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Waves
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Infrasonic Waves
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Species: As
many as one hundred species found in tropical Africa, including the
elephant fish. Petrocephalus sp.
Weight: n/aBody length: 0.6 m ( 2.0 ft) Power of discharge: low V Life-span: n/a Diet: fish Distinctive qualities: freshwater fish which generate an electric field around body; present in many species is an elongated, trunk-like snout; small eyes; small mouth; forked tail fin; varying length of anal and dorsal fins.
Habits, physical and social structures: The Mormyrid fish may be found as part of the family, Mormyridae, freshwater fish with an elongated snout, several species which have the ability to emit low-voltage electrical discharges as a way to navigate, as they are also nocturnal fish.Physics Application(s): Bioelectricity: Mormyrid fish are capable of
generating low-voltage discharges at all times and also produce a weak
electromagnetic dipole field around their bodies as means of Any manipulation within the field may be sensed by the fish, who is aware of the field distribution along their skin: if something should disturb their defense mechanism or the small, sensitive pores on its head, the fish will act upon it and avoid danger or attack what may be prey. If an object of greater conductivity than the fresh water is placed near the fish, the electric field lines of the fish bend towards the object in attraction, which distorts the field and warns the fish. It is also true that if an object of similar charge is placed near the fish, the field lines of the fish will repel from the object, also warning the fish. It has also been discovered that the fish seemingly obey a master frequency allocation agenda, where each species is assigned to a different frequency band and each individual emits frequency found within the respective band. If two fish of similar frequencies should happen to meet, one will shift its frequency, an act known as "jamming avoidance response". However, if there exists a large amount of species in a particular river, it may interfere with the agenda, in which case a new form of frequency control may be derived.
Anemaw [Animal Electromagnetism and Waves] © Elizabeth Gerrow 2002 . |
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navigation,
protection, and communication. The organ which aids in producing the fields
and electric discharges may be found as batteries (modified tissues) in the
tail. Pulses are propagated at 300 per second through the water surrounding
the fish, which establishes a weak electric field between the positive and
negative poles, found at the head and tail respectively.
