It turns out that you should be careful not only sharks. Some inhabitants of the seas have amazing abilities, attracting especially close attention. One of such representatives of the sea world is an electric ramp.
Mini generators of this fish generate a charge of electricity that can immobilize not only fish, but also humans. According to some reports, stingray fish can "give out" a voltage of 300 volts. The fish organs located in the abdominal and dorsal parts of the body can be compared to an electric or galvanic battery.
The electric ramp uses its unique weapon in two cases: in case of danger and during the search for prey (hunting). It is interesting that he himself does not suffer at all when the electric discharge is produced. Such invulnerability is explained by the "isolation" given to him by nature.
The famous scientist Gesner claimed that the electric ramp is a lazy fish swimming in puddles near the sea and preferring a muddy bottom.
But in contrast to laziness and slowness, nature endowed the stingray with a special ability to get even the fastest fish, which the current discharge makes listless (or kills at all). The ramp freezes at the bottom and, "scanning" the environment, patiently waits for its victim. A fish, deceived by immobility and losing vigilance, swims nearby and receives its "dose" of current (several tens of short discharges), after which the ramp only has to pick its prey.
By the way, almost all fishermen had the opportunity to feel the power of the influence of the "electric fish" on themselves, involuntarily throwing wet nets into which the slope fell - the attack of this fish is so sensitive. At the risk of touching the ramp, they later talked about their extremely unpleasant sensations: their hands went numb, became cold and completely lost their sensitivity; trembling in the legs was felt; there was a prolonged state of drowsiness. That is why fishermen never touch the ramp with their hands.
If suddenly, walking along the coast at low tide, you will see a jumping ramp trying to reach the water, do not risk hindering or helping it, otherwise after a while, such sensations will be provided to you. Keep in mind: a ramp is able to transmit its power even through objects, so there isn’t much difference in touching it with your hand or with a stick.
The most dangerous thing for humans is the simultaneous holding of this fish by its stomach and back - the place of the "batteries". Actually, uninformed people do just that, since holding fish with a similar body structure is really really more convenient. Ignorance of the features of the stingray almost immediately turns into a sharp drop in blood pressure, convulsions, and a violation of the heart rhythm. Therefore, it is better to stay away from the "sloping" places and when entering the water even in a wetsuit, do not touch the bottom.
However, only live fish possess such power. Dead electric ramp is not dangerous and even quite suitable for human consumption. Interestingly, the strength of the discharge generated by the ramp is not always the same even in the same individual. For example, a successful slope hunting field becomes more vulnerable because it has already managed to spend most of its energy. And restoration of this energy will require "recharging", in this case, time. After lying down on the seabed for several hours, the electric ramp will recover and will be ready again for attack or defense.
The appearance of this fish is completely unremarkable: a disk-shaped, fleshy body with brown streaks, a narrow tail and a small, rounded stigma are absolutely invisible at the bottom.
For about a year, the female stingray hatches soft-touch eggs and gives birth to independent, tiny cubs already capable of electric attack. Unlike fish, from the eggs of which several hundred fry can emerge, the electric ramp is less fertile - on average it produces only a dozen of its kind per year.