Eelduse

Eelduse is a term used in speculative biology and science fiction to denote a dual concept that can refer to both an eel‑like organism and to biohybrid devices inspired by such creatures. The word is a neologism that emerged in literary and academic discussions in the early 21st century and does not denote a real taxonomic group.

In fictional biology, eelduse are elongated, serpentine animals resembling eels, typically dark and slim, reaching up to one to two meters. They possess electroreceptors and a simple electric organ, enabling weak discharges and electrocommunication. They inhabit temperate coastal waters, kelp forests, or deep-sea canyons, depending on the story, using their electric sense to locate prey and navigate murky environments. Reproduction is described as external fertilization with free-swimming larvae.

As a technological concept, eelduse also designates biohybrid devices that combine living eel tissue with microelectronic components. In fiction, these devices function as environmental sensors, current detectors, or actuators that respond to underwater electrical fields, often deployed for monitoring, exploration, or search-and-rescue missions. In real science, such systems are discussed as thought experiments but remain speculative.

Across works, eelduse raise questions about ecological ethics, the boundaries between living beings and machines, and the responsibilities involved in deploying intelligent systems in natural habitats.

Related topics include biohybrid devices, bioelectronic sensors, biomimicry, and speculative biology.