All Images
News Release 07-113
Moray Eels Are Uniquely Equipped to Pack Big Prey Into Their Narrow Bodies
Two sets of jaws capture and move prey to throat for swallowing
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
Moray eels have two sets of jaws: 1) the oral jaws that capture prey; and 2) the pharyngeal jaws (similar to the jaws of the monster in the movie, "Alien") that advance into the mouth and move prey from the oral jaws to the esophagus for swallowing.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation (after Rita Mehta, UC Davis)
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (557 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
Moray eels live in confined spaces in coral reefs, where it would be impossible to use the type of suction used by most bony fish to capture and move prey into the throat. Scientists believe that the moray eel's inner set of jaws (their pharyngeal jaws), which move food from their oral jaws to their esophagus, represent an adaptation to their cramped environment. This photo was taken on a dive in Indonesia.
Credit: Rita Mehta, University of California, Davis
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (589 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
A moray eel eating a piece of squid. This photo is from a series of movies that the lead researcher took while studying the eels' feeding anatomy.
Credit: Rita Mehta, University of California, Davis
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (140 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
X-ray of an eel. Note how far the eel's pharyngeal jaw is from its mouth.
Credit: Rita Mehta, University of California at Davis
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (129 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
View Video
A moray eel eating a fish.
Credit: Rita Mehta, University of California at Davis
View Video
A moray eel eats a piece of squid. As it grabs food, the pharyngeal jaw is seen coming out of its oral cavity and hooking into the squid.
Credit: Rita Mehta, University of California at Davis