Saccopharyngiformes
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| The Saccopharyngiformes are an order of unusual ray-finned fish, superficially similar to eels, but with many internal differences. Most of the fish in this order are deep-sea types known from only a handful of specimens, such as the pelican eel. Saccopharyngiformes are also bioluminescent in several species. Some, such as the "swallowers", can live as deep as 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the ocean, well into the aphotic zone.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry Get back to Actinopterygii |
Pelican eel
| phylum | Chordata | The pelican eel is a deep-sea fish rarely seen by humans. It is also referred to as the gulper eel and the umbrella-mouth gulper. It's most notable feature is its large mouth, much larger than its body. The pouch-like lower jaw resembles that of a pelican, hence its name. The stomach can stretch and expand to accommodate large meals, although analysis of stomach contents suggests they primarily eat small crustaceans.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Saccopharyngiformes |
| class | Actinopterygii | |
| order | Saccopharyngiformes | |
| family | Eurypharyngidae | |
| species | Eurypharynx | |
| species | E. pelecanoides |
