dziwne-zwierzęta-oceaniczne: Pelican eel

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

The pelican eel (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) is a deep-sea eel. It is the only known member of the genus Eurypharynx and the family Eurypharyngidae. The species belongs to the "saccopharyngiforms", members of which were historically placed in their own order, but are now considered true eels in the order Anguilliformes. The pelican eel has been described by many synonyms, yet nobody has been able to demonstrate that more than one species of pelican eel exists. It is also referred to as the gulper eel (which can also refer to members of the related genus Saccopharynx), pelican gulper, and umbrella-mouth gulper. The specific epithet pelecanoides refers to the pelican, as the fish's large mouth…

Evidence: 65 • authority: 92

Resolving deep-sea pelagic saccopharyngiform eel mysteries: Identification of Neocyema and Monognathidae leptocephali and establishment of a new fish family "Neocyematidae" based on larvae, adults and mitogenomic gene orders.. Deep-sea midwater "saccopharyngiform" eels of the families Cyematidae, Monognathidae, Eurypharyngidae and Saccopharyngidae (order Anguilliformes) are extraordinary fishes having major skeletal reductions and modifications compared to the general anguilliform body structure. Little is known about most aspects of the systematics, phylogeny, and ecology of these families, and few of the approximately 30 species described from adult specimens have been matched with their…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 88

Growth in Larval and Metamorphosed Eurypharynx Pelecanoides Vaillant, 1882 (Pisces, Anguilliformes, Eurypharyngidae) from the mid North Atlantic. The difference between the larvae of Eurypharynx pelecanoides and Saccopharynx ampullaceus , both belonging to the suborder Saccopharyngoidei (formerly Lyomeri), does not consist only of different numbers in myomeres but also of the structure of the suspensorium of the lower jaw. In E. pelecanoides it consists of two separate bones, the hyomandibulare and the quadratum. According to Orton (1963) in S. ampullaceus the suspensorium consists of only one piece of bone.

Evidence: 53 • authority: 88

The Biology of <i>Eurypharynx pelecanoides</i> (Pisces, Eurypharyngidae). Abstract This paper is based on 760 Atlantic specimens of pelican eels caught from off Iceland to 48°S in depths between 2750 and c. 500 m. Stomach contents from 120 specimens show a varied diet dominated by crustaceans, fish and squid. The frequent occurrence of Sargasso weed consumed by Eurypharynx indicates a lack of prey‐item discrimination. The forward directed eyes appear to enable stereoscopic prey localization, possibly aided by the well developed lateral line. The huge gape is unsuitable for suction feeding. It is proposed that prey engulfing is accomplished by a forward thrust of the head by which the produc…