description Pelican eel Overview
An enormous expandable mouth gives the pelican eel, Eurypharynx pelecanoides, its name and unusual silhouette. First described by Léon Vaillant in 1882, this deep-sea fish has a slender body and a long, whip-like tail ending in a luminous organ. It is the sole recognized species in Eurypharyngidae, making it a distinctive branch within eel diversity. Its mouth and expandable digestive tract allow it to accommodate sizeable meals, while recorded prey include crustaceans and fish.
Life in the dark bathypelagic zone makes direct observation difficult, so explanations of its light organ require care. Attracting prey is a proposed function, not a fully settled account of its behavior. The contrast between its thin body and greatly enlarged mouth makes it relevant to research on deep-ocean feeding adaptations.
help Pelican eel FAQ
What is the pelican eel's enormous mouth actually used for?
Eurypharynx pelecanoides can expand its pouch-like jaws around prey in the deep sea. Despite the dramatic mouth, it is a slender animal and often feeds on relatively small crustaceans, fish and other drifting organisms.
Does the pelican eel use a glowing lure?
Its long tail ends in a light-producing organ that can glow and may help attract or confuse prey. This is separate from the jaw lure used by many deep-sea anglerfish.
How deep does the pelican eel live?
Pelican eels inhabit the dark mesopelagic and bathypelagic ocean, commonly hundreds to thousands of meters below the surface. Their fragile bodies are adapted to pressure and low food availability rather than life in shallow water.
Is the pelican eel a true eel?
Yes, it belongs to the eel order Anguilliformes, although its body plan looks very different from familiar freshwater eels and morays. French zoologist Léon Vaillant formally described Eurypharynx pelecanoides in 1882.
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