A Catalogue of Useless Facts

Moray Eels

​

Moray Eels
- biology -

​​Many species of fish possess a second set of jaws, located at the start of the throat. These "pharyngeal jaws" are typically used to further process food before transferring to the stomach.

The pharyngeal jaws of the moray eel, however, serve a different function. While most predatory fish swallow by swelling their mouths open to inhale prey with vacuum pressure, the moray's head structure doesn't allow for this. Instead, the eel will bite food with its main jaws, then reach forward with its pharyngeal jaws to drag prey down the throat.

#065

Sources ▼

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/science/11eel.html