Gulper Eel
Gulper Eel
Fish
A deep-sea fish with an enormous, loosely-hinged mouth that can open far wider than its own body to engulf prey, and a glowing lure at the tip of its long, whip-like tail.
Name Story
Eurypharynx pelecanoides
means “the wide-throat that is pelican-like”
What does its name mean?
- Eurypharynx — wide throatGreek (eurys, 'wide' + pharynx, 'throat')
- pelecanoides — pelican-likeGreek (pelekan, 'pelican' + -oides, 'like')
Both halves of this deep-sea eel's name point to the same amazing feature: enormous, loosely-hinged jaws and a huge balloon-like throat pouch that open up — just like a pelican's beak — to swallow prey larger than the eel itself.