How did the gulper eel get its name? 👹 It’s easy to see here! The crew of the E/V Nautilus spotted this gulper eel while exploring the deep waters of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Marine Sanctuary. Gulper eels’ mouths work similarly to pelicans’, growing bigger rapidly so they can scoop up prey. When it encounters prey, this fish blows up its mouth to impressive dimensions, creating a massive net that can scoop up a squid or a swarm of shrimp. Its balloon-like capacity is a helpful adaptation for an opportunistic eater—the tiny teeth that line its jaws certainly wouldn’t be up to the job alone. Despite the fearsome size of its mouth, however, the pelican eel isn’t a particularly athletic hunter. It has extremely small eyes compared to other denizens of the deep, so can’t rely on sight to locate prey. Instead, the pelican eel uses a pink (or occasionally red) light on its rear fins to lure its next meal. It’s also not much of a swimmer—with a whip-like tail and a lack of pelvic ...