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The Can-do Pelican Eel

The pelican eel, also known as the gulper eel (Eurypharynx pelecanoides), are the only known species of eel in the family Eurypharyngidae. They are found exclusively in the deeper parts of the water column, from depths of 500 up to to 3,000 m (1,600 to 9,800 ft), but are distributed throughout all the world's oceans.

The gulper eel is perhaps most famous for its unique body shape. Like many deep-sea fish, this species is highly adapted to its environment; maximum energy efficiency is the highest priority. To that end, the pelican eel has a large head, and a jaw estimated to be quarter of the total length of its body. The jaw is loosely hinged, meaning that gulper eels can open their mouths extremely wide. The rest of the eel, in contrast, is quite slender and long, about 0.75 m (2.5 ft) in length on average. Most individuals are black--so black, in fact, that they only reflect 0.5% of light; perfect for hiding from potential predators.

Although they look skinny, E. pelecanoides can expand their stomachs to hold prey much larger than themselves. Their primary prey consists of crustaceans and cephalopods, though they may feed opportunistically on other fish. Because it is so well camouflaged, it uses bioluminescent organs on the tip of its tail to attract prey. Gulper eels themselves are preyed upon by lancetfish and other larger deep-sea fish. To deter predators, they will gulp down a large amount of water; this stretches the loose skin around their head and throat, and inflates them to several times their usual size.

Because of their remote location, the breeding habits of gulper eels are relatively unknown. However, it is believed that smell plays a large part in attracting a mate, as pelican eels have highly developed olfactory organs. Like other eels, they're born as tiny, transparent larvae in a state known as the leptocephalus stage. At this stage, they do not have any red blood cells. Researchers aren't sure how long it takes gulper eels to become fully mature, or how long they live, but many believe that adults die shortly after mating.

Conservation status: The population size of E. pelecanoides has not been assessed, and thus the IUCN has not made a determination on its status. The greatest threat for this species is deep-sea trawling, which frequently brings up gulper eels as by-catch.

Photos/Video

Paul Caiger

Schmidt Ocean Institute

EV Nautilus Team (I highly recommend checking out their 2023 highlights reel!)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

spotted hyenas are the goat <3 i love all of the hyenas but they have a special place in my heart

Actually I'm pretty sure spotted hyenas are a type of hyena ;)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

strange question- what's your favorite feliform & hyaenid? i'm a big fan of feliformia <3

Not a strange question at all!

My favorite feliform are cheetahs- I could watch videos of them running all day. And I love that they're the largest cats able to purr/meow!

And, of course, my favorite hyaenid is the spotted hyena.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Sorry for all the questions, just curious!

My favorite sneks are probably a boring answer, but hognoses! I think they're cute, I find their burrowing fun, and the cobra mimicking is neat

Hey, there's no such thing as a boring answer when it comes to your favorite animal! I agree that hognoses are really cute-- their snoots are so boopable. And I had no idea they could imitate cobras!

(Image: A hognose snake, flattening its head similar to a cobra, courtesy of the Cape Cod National Seashore Park)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

What's your favorite snake overall? Favorite hot snake? Favorite constrictor? Favorite misc category? Favorite arboreal lizard? Favorite aquatic herp? Favorite turtle? Favorite birb?

Ah, now here's something that's right up my alley!

My favorite snake overall are probably garter snakes, just because they were my introduction to herpetology- every spring when I was a kid I'd go out to catch them and beg my mom to let me keep one (she said no).

2. Favorite hot snake-- not sure what you mean by this one; there isn't a group collectively known as 'hot snakes'. But I've always had a soft spot for the gaboon viper!

3. My favorite constrictor are anacondas for sure; I love me a big wet noodle

4. Favorite misc. category (of reptile) are frill-necked lizards! I used to have a stuffed animal of one that I slept with every night.

5. Favorite arboreal lizard: Probably iguanas. I don't know why, but there's something about those huge scales on their cheeks that really appeals to me.

6. Favorite aquatic herp: Sea snakes! They're just so crazy!

7. Favorite turtle: This one is really hard; probably a tie between the Asian forest tortoise and the Mojave Desert tortoise. I've had the opportunity to work with both, and they're just so neat!

8. Favorite bird (I will say (and I know this is controversial) that I don't think that birds and reptiles should be in the same category. But I digress): Again, this is a toughie, but I get really nostalgic for red-winged black birds; I'd hear them all the time growing up, and they have such a distinctive call.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Round One of MMM be like

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Here it is, the official bracket for May Mammal Madness! Our first round will be in the Epic Animals bracket; stay tuned for run-downs on each of the competitors!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

A worm that can jump? It's more likely than you think! Asian jumping worms will thrash wildly when threatened, and have been known to leap nearly 30 cm (11 in) into the air! If that doesn't deter predators, they may also drop their tails just like a lizard.

(Image: An Asian jumping worm (Amynthas agrestis) by Tom Potterfield)

If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another fund benefiting Palestinians– including esim donations and verified gofundmes– I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Have you posted for the gulper eel? They have such award winning smiles

I have not, but now I know what my next post will be about!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Have you done anything on the majestic Cassowary?

I sure have! You can read about them right here!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

What is your favorite worm. What's your favorite crustacean. What's your favorite true bug. What's your favorite parasite. What's your favorite non-true bug insect?

Oh gosh you're asking all the wrong questions-- I'm a herpetologist, and I've never really been particularly interested in anything without a spine. Nevertheless, I shall try to answer to the best of my ability.

Favorite worm: Giant tube worms, because they live near volcanic vents and basically live off the sulfer, which is crazy!

2. Favorite crustaceans: Japanese spider crabs; when I was a kid I could spend ages watching them at the Shedd Aquarium. I love their long legs!

3. Favorite true bug: Annual cicadas, because I always associate them with summer (although stepping on their old shells was. unpleasant.)

4. Favorite parasite: Parasitoid wasps; I think their method of parasitism (laying their eggs in or on other arthropods) is really neat!

5. Favorite non-true bug insect (not a fair question imo, considering how many species are included): Probably fireflies, again because I associate them with summer-- when I was a kid I'd see how many I could catch before it got too dark.

And there you have it! I'll admit some of these were easier to answer than others; as I said, inverts are not my specialty by any means. But this was a lot of fun to answer, even if I did have to look up a few things!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Worms???? 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Worms!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Today locusts are most commonly thought of as a biblical plague, but in fact swarms of them occur almost every year in Africa, North America, Asia, and Australia. The largest swarm ever recorded occurred in Kenya in 1954; it covered 200 sq km (77 sq mi), and the population was estimated about 10 billion individuals!

(Image: A desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) by Mourad Harzallah)

If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another fund benefiting Palestinians– including esim donations and verified gofundmes– I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Shy Hamlet (Hypoplectrus guttavarius), family Serranidae, order Perciformes, found in the Caribbean

This species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female reproductive systems at all times through their lives.

During mating, the 2 partners take turns fertilizing each others eggs.

photograph by H. Zell 

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

African dwarf frogs don't have good table manners, but you can't really blame them. This species has neither a tongue nor teeth, and must use their front feet to shove food down their throats.

(Image: An African dwarf frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) by James Gathany)

If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another fund benefiting Palestinians– including esim donations and verified gofundmes– I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

the greater bluebonnet is a small parrot found in southeastern and central australia. they are considered a sedentary or resident species and do not migrate. they mostly remain in pairs or congregate in small groups of up to ten; while they are social, they are not as gregarious as some other parrots. they are known to be aggressive and difficult to breed by aviculturists. females are slightly duller than males, with less red on their bellies. they primarily feed on seeds, but are omnivorous and have a varied diet that also includes nectar, fruit, and insects.