Electroreception, electrogenesis and electric signal evolution.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing comparative physiology and evolution without clinical trials or systematic data aggregation (by design analogy).
PubMed 30729523 · doi:10.1111/jfb.13922
What was done
This narrative review synthesized knowledge on the functional biology, phylogenetic distribution, and evolutionary mechanisms of electroreception and electrogenesis in fishes, with an emphasis on freshwater taxa (specifically Mormyroidea and Gymnotiformes). It examined the proximate genetic, morphological, and physiological bases of electric-organ discharge (EOD) and electroreceptor diversity alongside ultimate evolutionary drivers.
What was found
Passive electroreception using low-frequency ampullary electroreceptors occurs in approximately 16% of fish species, while active electroreception via tuberous electroreceptors detecting weak (< 1 V) EODs is restricted to Mormyroidea and Gymnotiformes. Overall, approximately 1.5% of fish species possess electric organs, with additional elasmobranchs and teleosts generating weak (< 10 V) or strong (> 50 V) EODs for communication or predation rather than electrolocation. The review identified four key moderators of electric signal diversity: abiotic environmental selection, biotic selection (sexual selection, reproductive interference, and eavesdropping predators), non-adaptive drift, and phylogenetic inertia.
Why it matters
It provides an integrated framework linking proximate physiological and genetic mechanisms to ecological and macroevolutionary forces driving convergent sensory and communication adaptations in electric fishes.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic literature search, formal study quality assessment, and quantitative meta-analytic pooling. Specific sample sizes and detailed statistical parameters are not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Many species of fish possess electroreception, allowing them to detect perturbations in surrounding electrical fields.