Pelican eel
📖 Overview
Meso- to abyssopelagic and bathypelagic . Adults feed mainly on crustaceans, but also take fishes, cephalopods, and other invertebrates . Oviparous, planktonic eggs hatch into planktonic leptocephalus larvae . Degenerative changes in males and females suggest semelparity .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Mouth greatly enlarged by a backward extension of jaws, gape comprising half or more of preanal length; buccal cavity greatly distensible. Tail attenuated and ending in an expanded, luminous caudal organ. Caudal fin absent; scales absent; lateral line without pores, instead with groups of elevated tubules.: eel-like.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Pelican eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Pelican eel is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Semelparous . Oviparous . Degenerative changes in males and females suggest semelparity . Egg cells within each of the gonads have the same developmental stage (monocyclic ovaries) suggesting only one spawning during its lifetime or periodic spawning .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 500 - 7625 m , usually 1200 - 1400 m . Deep-water; 67°N - 56°N, 180°W - 180°E
🌿 Ecology
crustaceans, but also take fishes, cephalopods, and other invertebrates (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euripharynx pelecanoides | Vaillant | 1882 | Synonym |
| Eurypharynx pacificus | Bean | 1904 | Synonym |
| Eurypharynx richardi | Roule | 1914 | Synonym |
| Gastrostomus bairdii | Gill & Ryder | 1883 | Synonym |
| Gastrostomus pacificus | Bean | 1904 | Synonym |
| Leptocephalus pseudolatissimus | Bertin | 1936 | Synonym |
| Macropharynx longicaudatus | Brauer | 1902 | Synonym |
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 144 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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