Magnetic and electric characteristics of the electric fish Gymnotus carapó.

The fresh water fish Gymnotus carapó produces a continuous series of weak pulsed electric fields in its surroundings and senses disturbances of this field as part of its sensory system. The electric and magnetic properties of the electric organ of this fish were studied. Magnetic fields close to the fish on the order of nT are produced by currents on the order of 10(-4) A in the electric organ of the fish. The electromotive force, the internal resistance, the current, and the electric power of the equivalent circuit were determined noninvasively.