Sunday, September 23, 2018

The Mysterious Gulper Eel

Marine biologists respond in awe as a gulper eel (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) inflates its pouch-like mouth, apparently as a defensive strategy (link to YouTube).



This is one of the first clear videos of the gulper eel, shot from a deep-sea rover on a previously unexplored seamount at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, northwest of Hawaii.


Also called a pelican eel because of its expandable jaws, the gulper has a light-emitting organ on the tip of its tail and can grow up to 6 feet long.
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5 comments:

  1. Glenn TaitSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:06 AM

    What a beautiful and unique animal. Amazing the things that we haven't seen on our own planet. Thanks for sharing this James.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownSeptember 23, 2018 at 7:32 PM

    What an amazing face on that creature. Wonderful inspiration for a fantasy character! --krs

    ReplyDelete
  3. ChristinaSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:27 PM

    Thanks for sharing James! I have never seen or heard of this strange creature. So many strange things still unknown.

    ReplyDelete
  4. KateSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:09 PM

    I had heard of this creature, what a great vid however!
    And, as anon says, food for artistic inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  5. David ApatoffSeptember 27, 2018 at 6:51 PM

    I know some gulper eels who work on Wall Street.

    ReplyDelete

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