Shockers of the Sea and Other Electric Animals by Caroline Arnold

illustrated by Crista Forest

Shockers of the Sea will make you think twice about venturing into murky waters. You may have heard of the electric eel, but there are many more animals that possess an electric sense. Shockers introduces a myriad of electric animals from such "strongly electric" fish as the eel, to the "weakly electric" axolotl, a salamander from Mexico. Find out how this electric sense helps them locate food and detect predators, and why some scientists believe animals use their electric sense to talk to one another. Did you know the electric eel can create enough electricity to stun or even kill its prey? Can you imagine wrapping an electric ray around your head? People in ancient Greece and Rome believed the electric ray could cure a headache this way!

Crista Forest's eery, dramatic illustrations go to the shadowy depths where many of these creatures dwell and to the murky waters where they hunt their prey. Shockers of the Sea and Other Electric Animals brings these rare and intriguing animals to the surface. Discover the shocking truth about these electrifying creatures!

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0-88106-874-8 $6.95 pb

A handsome introduction to a variety of unusual creatures that use electricity in unexpected ways: to locate, stun and capture prey; in electrolocation; to communicate; or to sense the world about them. The simple, readable text is accompanied by strong, somber oil paintings that mirror the often murky waters these "electricians" inhabit, showing eels and catfish, knife fish, stargazers, rays, skates, and others in their marine and freshwater worlds. Information boxes provide snippets of data on such topics as electrocommunication, Volta's battery, and the use of electric rays for medicinal purposes in ancient Greece. This is a fascinating initiation to an exceptional collection of animals.

(School Library Journal, January 2000)

A fascinating look at an "electric sense," a sense that allows some fish to make and sometimes feel electricity. Electric fish use their extra sense in many waysfor getting food, defense, communication, and more. Arnold clearly discusses different kinds of electric fish in her fact-rich text and also briefly mentions other creatures that have the electric sense. The richly detailed oil paintings are murky but well captioned, and the book includes numerous sidebars with interesting related information. Glossary and web resources.

(Booklist, October 1999)

Arnold's clear text explains that electric fish, such as eels, knif fish, and catfish, have an extra sense - and electric sense - that they use for defending themselves, stunning and/or finding their prey, navigating, and communicating. Unfortunately, the dark paintings make these sea creatures, which can be visually exciting, look muddy and formless. A list of Internet sources is included.

(The Horn Book Guide, July-December 1999)