科学家发现“令人震惊”的高压电鳗

It’s a truly shocking discovery.

这真是一个令人震惊的发现。

Scientists have found two entirely new species of electric eel — including one that zaps out a record-breaking jolt.

科学家们发现了两种全新的电鳗，其中一种电鳗能发出前所未有的震动。

Zoologists long believed that Electrophorus electricus — which inspired Alessandro Volta to design the first battery — was a single species found in the Amazon basin.

长期以来，动物学家一直认为，启发亚历山德罗•沃尔特设计出第一块电池的电鳗是在亚马逊盆地发现的单一物种。

But a study published Tuesday reveals there are actually at least three separate species, with Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii joining their previously-known counterpart.

但周二公布的一项研究显示，实际上至少有三种不同的物种，其中包括电鳗和石菖蒲。

E. voltai was also recorded producing a jolt of 860 volts, far higher than the 650 volts previously recorded from electric eels, according to the study published in Nature Communications.

根据发表在《自然通讯》杂志上的研究，还记录到了电鳗产生的860伏特的震动，远远高于之前从电鳗身上记录到的650伏特。

Lead researcher David de Santan said that would be enough to give a serious stun, although it is unlikely to kill a human, according to Courthouse News Service.

据法院新闻处报道，首席研究员戴维德桑坦(david de santan)说，这足以让人严重眩晕，但不太可能致命。

“The shock stuns the victim. It’s sufficiently strong to help the fish capture prey or scare off a predator,” Santana said, noting it is the “strongest bioelectricity generator known.”

“电击把受害者打晕。它的力量足以帮助鱼类捕获猎物或吓跑捕食者，”桑塔纳说，并指出这是“已知最强的生物发电机。”

The three species look almost identical, but the scientists were able to tell them apart with DNA and voltage tests, according to the study.

根据这项研究，这三个物种看起来几乎相同，但科学家们通过DNA和电压测试能够将它们区分开来。