PubHawk
September 2007 PMID 17805293

Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels swallow large prey.

Rita S Mehta, Peter C Wainwright

Full text PDF Download social card

Mentions

31
Peak: 3 in Aug 2023
across 6 sources since Oct 2019

Extended reach

5,487,333
potential audience

Total likes

172,295

Video views

5,477,900

Mentions per month

Oct 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • Blogs9 articles
  • News5 articles
  • Bluesky3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions demonstrate high curiosity and support for the research, highlighted by comments describing the eel's jaws as 'alien' and 'nuts,' with some referencing its implications for understanding vertebrate adaptations. The tone varies from fascination to humor, showing an engaged audience that recognizes the significance of the discovery without claiming it to be groundbreaking in a broader societal sense.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the discovery and support its significance, with comments like 'Mehta & Wainwright really get the point across,' indicating agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Many posts show high interest, referencing the 'alien jaw' and commenting on its bizarre nature, suggesting fascination with the research.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts include detailed mentions of the mechanisms, comparisons to sci-fi creatures, and reactions that showcase active engagement, such as discussing the eel’s lunge ability.

ImpactModerate impact

Discussions indicate the research is viewed as scientifically intriguing but not necessarily paradigm-shifting, with some posts likening it to 'alien' features and general commentary.

Abstract in brief

  • Moray eels have a unique way of swallowing large prey by using specialized jaws called pharyngeal jaws that can extend out of their throat to grasp and pull prey into their stomachs, unlike most fish that use suction to swallow.
  • This discovery is the first known case of a vertebrate employing a second set of jaws for both holding and moving prey, providing an alternative to the common suction method seen in other aquatic animals.
  • The ability of moray eels to rapidly extend and use their pharyngeal jaws resembles snake mechanisms, highlighting an evolutionary convergence that may help them succeed as top predators in complex environments like coral reefs.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Kanon Tanaka_田中花音
@canon_ofuton · X

Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels swallow large prey Rita S. Mehta & Peter C. Wainwright （2007） #illustration #イラスト https://t.co/l3MsYpjGzr

Dec 19, 2020 · 31 likes · 7 shares · 1,372 followers View post →
Hannah Weller, PhD (she/her)
@hannahiweller · X

@Death2Mosquitos @CMDonatelli @ChrisDPiazza @Sternarchella @Karly_Cohen Yes!!! Most fishes you can think of have throat jaws, but the moray eel ones are especially nuts because they can lunge forward to grab prey trapped in the oral jaws (aka normal jaws). Mehta & Wainwright (https://t.co/PhOonvCVbt) really get the point across... https://t.co/OswipMy61c

Oct 19, 2019 · 4 likes · 1,085 followers View post →
Ieda Marcondes
@iedamarcondes.com · Bluesky

Peixe é uma coisa tão bizarra, credo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYSkg9FyhPg

Aug 16, 2023 · 2 likes View post →
jim-bob-boy.bsky.social
@jim-bob-boy.bsky.social · Bluesky

The moray eel has a retractable pharyngeal jaw, discovered in 2006. Mehta, R. S., & Wainwright, P. C. (2007). "Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels swallow prey." Nature, 449(7162), 79–82. DOI: 10.1038/nature06062 H. R. Giger drew the alien in 1976. "Alien" appeared in 1979. Spooky, eh?

Jun 4, 2025 · 1 like View post →
Nop
@voxexsinister.bsky.social · Bluesky

The best bit of this is the butt-beetle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYSkg9FyhPg

Aug 19, 2023 · 1 like · 2 shares View post →
Kanon Tanaka_田中花音
@canon_ofuton · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Feb 6, 2021 · 7 shares · 1,372 followers View post →

All mentions

Evolution and Function of Dinoflagellate Nematocysts

Researchers investigated the evolution of nematocysts in dinoflagellates. High-resolution videos captured their unique discharge mechanisms, revealing two types: one using a single capsule and another firing multiple…

Ze Frank · Aug 16, 2023 3,211,404 views

Communicative Hunting of Groupers and Giant Moray Eels

This video explores the unique interspecific communication and coordinated hunting strategies between groupers and giant moray eels in the Red Sea. Featuring expert insights, it presents their remarkable behaviors and…

Ze Frank · Jun 30, 2024 2,266,496 views
Gavin Morrice
@MorriceGavin · X

@ismasan @nazanin_ashrafi Sorry, but here’s that alien jaw I mentioned https://t.co/eCeHbOLyCR

Nov 5, 2025 · 596 followers View post →
jim-bob-boy.bsky.social
@jim-bob-boy.bsky.social · Bluesky

The moray eel has a retractable pharyngeal jaw, discovered in 2006. Mehta, R. S., & Wainwright, P. C. (2007). "Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels swallow prey." Nature, 449(7162), 79–82. DOI: 10.1038/nature06062 H. R. Giger drew the alien in 1976. "Alien" appeared in 1979. Spooky, eh?

Jun 4, 2025 · 1 like View post →
a_hum_prana
@a_hum_prana · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Oct 22, 2023 · 7 shares · 726 followers View post →
Nop
@voxexsinister.bsky.social · Bluesky

The best bit of this is the butt-beetle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYSkg9FyhPg

Aug 19, 2023 · 1 like · 2 shares View post →
Ieda Marcondes
@iedamarcondes.com · Bluesky

Peixe é uma coisa tão bizarra, credo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYSkg9FyhPg

Aug 16, 2023 · 2 likes View post →
back to academia cyto
@cytosine_37 · X

Welcome to my fucking nightmare https://t.co/49Ei0y9rAr https://t.co/hSiomQBy31

May 27, 2021 · 676 followers View post →
piyawat
@piyawat · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Apr 19, 2021 · 7 shares · 924 followers View post →
Kanon Tanaka_田中花音
@canon_ofuton · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Feb 6, 2021 · 7 shares · 1,372 followers View post →
piyawat
@piyawat · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Jan 31, 2021 · 7 shares · 924 followers View post →
夕空あかね
@fuungenkindrdr · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Jan 7, 2021 · 7 shares · 593 followers View post →
にょろにょろぴょんぴょん
@ular_katakkatak · X

RT @canon_ofuton: Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels s…

Dec 20, 2020 · 7 shares · 1,064 followers View post →
Kanon Tanaka_田中花音
@canon_ofuton · X

Moray eel swallowing 初めてのツケペンでの作品です ウツボの咽頭歯が獲物を飲み込む時にどのように動くかを描きました 参考文献 Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels swallow large prey Rita S. Mehta & Peter C. Wainwright （2007） #illustration #イラスト https://t.co/l3MsYpjGzr

Dec 19, 2020 · 31 likes · 7 shares · 1,372 followers View post →
Hannah Weller, PhD (she/her)
@hannahiweller · X

@Death2Mosquitos @CMDonatelli @ChrisDPiazza @Sternarchella @Karly_Cohen Yes!!! Most fishes you can think of have throat jaws, but the moray eel ones are especially nuts because they can lunge forward to grab prey trapped in the oral jaws (aka normal jaws). Mehta & Wainwright (https://t.co/PhOonvCVbt) really get the point across... https://t.co/OswipMy61c

Oct 19, 2019 · 4 likes · 1,085 followers View post →