Eels are elongated aquatic creatures with snake-like bodies, inhabiting diverse aquatic environments from freshwater rivers to the depths of the ocean. With over 800 known species, their unique anatomy often prompts curiosity, particularly about the presence of a tongue, a muscular organ many animals use for manipulating food.
The Truth About Eel Tongues
Eels do not possess a muscular, movable tongue like many other vertebrates. Instead, their oral anatomy is adapted for a predatory lifestyle, featuring specialized teeth and jaw structures for securing and manipulating prey. Eels have multiple rows of sharp, thin teeth, often described as razor-sharp, protruding from both their upper and lower jaws. These teeth are typically curved and pointed backward, an adaptation that helps them firmly grip slippery prey and prevent escape. Some eel species, particularly moray eels, also have teeth on the roof of their mouths, enhancing their grip.
Beyond their primary oral jaws, many eels, such as moray eels, possess a distinctive second set of jaws, known as pharyngeal jaws, deeper within their throat. These pharyngeal jaws are equipped with teeth and connected by strong muscles. Unlike the more stationary pharyngeal jaws found in most fish, those of moray eels are exceptionally mobile. They can extend forward into the main oral cavity, acting as an additional grabbing mechanism. This unique feature allows eels to process food differently from many other fish.
How Eels Eat
Eels are carnivorous, preying on fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Their specialized oral structures enable them to capture and consume prey effectively. Many eels employ an ambush hunting strategy, lurking in crevices or burrows and striking when prey comes within reach. Moray eels, for instance, have a highly developed sense of smell that compensates for their poor eyesight, aiding in food location.
When an eel, particularly a moray eel, attacks, it uses its primary outer jaws to grasp prey firmly. Then, the pharyngeal jaws shoot forward to seize the prey. These inner jaws retract, pulling prey deeper into the esophagus for swallowing. This mechanism benefits eels in confined spaces, allowing them to transport large prey without significant head expansion or reliance on suction feeding.
Some eels exhibit other distinctive feeding behaviors. Moray eels can coil their bodies around prey, trapping or compressing it before consumption. Garden eels, anchored in burrows, feed by extending their bodies from the sand and striking at drifting zooplankton. They adjust their posture to water currents, minimizing drag while maintaining position to capture passing food particles.