| The Abyss - Snipe Eels |
| Written by Jonathan C. Wojcik - Photo credits unknown or from public news articles unless otherwise noted. If you know their sources and need them credited or removed, please e-mail me. |
The first true eel on our abyssal tour, Nemichthyidae have thin, tweezer-like jaws that bend
outwards from each other, an arrangement that at first appears useless. It was long debated
how these fish actually ate, but we now know that their tiny, backwards-facing teeth allow
them to "ratchet" small crustaceans into their mouths with a series of rapid chomps.
outwards from each other, an arrangement that at first appears useless. It was long debated
how these fish actually ate, but we now know that their tiny, backwards-facing teeth allow
them to "ratchet" small crustaceans into their mouths with a series of rapid chomps.
| Image © 2004 MBARI |
