A study has revealed that electric eel has a secret weapon to supercharge its electric shock. The electric fish bends its body around prey to double the voltage of its shock, according to the study published in the journal Current Biology on Wednesday.

Electric eel not only uses its secret electrocution techniques to immobilize prey, but also to defend itself. The creature’s powerful shock can even incapacitate a very large fish, the study suggested.

Kenneth C. Catania, biology professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and lead author of the study, said it was exciting to know that there is a creature that has been studied for many years, but its unique ability was still unknown until it was observed closely.

According to a report of National Geographic, “Eels’ serpentine bodies contain electric organs with thousands of specialized cells that store power like tiny batteries. An eel zaps its prey with a Taser-like, 600 volt shock – five times the power of a US wall socket – which causes fish muscles to contract”.

When eel uses its electric power, it immobilizes the prey and gives time to the creature to swallow it quickly. During the study, Catania stuffed goldfish with electrodes designed to measure shock voltage. After that, they release the goldfish in an aquarium where an eel was present.

The researcher observed that eel curled its bodies to strengthen its electric power. The creature released doubled shock value and hit the prey with a number of shocks.