A deep-sea eel of temperate and tropical oceans, living 500–3,000 m down, with a loosely hinged mouth much larger than its body. Despite its huge jaws it has only tiny teeth and eats mostly small crustaceans. Its ultra-black skin reflects less than 0.5% of light.
Quick answers
What is it?Fish
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inOceans
HabitatOpen ocean
ColoursBlack
SizeMedium
LengthAbout 0.75 m; possibly up to 1 m
LegsNone
Covered inSkin
Lives alone
Lives for3–5 years
Can swim
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Temperate and tropical waters of all oceans.
- What it eats
- Mainly small crustaceans such as shrimp, plus squid.
Did you know
Its mouth unhinges wider than its whole body to swallow prey larger than itself.
The tip of its whip-like tail has a light organ that glows pink and gives off red flashes.
Many researchers believe pelican eels die shortly after breeding.
Often confused with
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