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Electric communication is mainly known in fish
The electric signals are produced in special electric organs
When the signal is discharged the electric organ will be negatively loaded compared to the head and an electric field is created around the fish
A weak electric current is created also in ordinary muscle cells when they contract
In the electric organ the muscle cells are connected in larger chunks, which makes the total current intensity larger than in ordinary muscles
The fish varies the signals by changing the form of the electric field or the frequency of discharging
The system is only working over small distances, about one to two meters
This is an advantage since the species using the signal system often live in large groups with several other species
If many fish send out signals at the same time, the short range decreases the risk of interference