This eel has a unique set of double jaws that helps it capture prey.
Australia. The land down under is home to an incredible amount of biodiversity, perhaps more so than any other place on earth. It never ceases to amaze us how many amazing and unique animals are living there both on land and in the sea.
The Brave Wilderness crew was in Australia exploring tide pools for a variety of interesting marine species when they caught a snowflake eel.
This fascinating creature has a second set of hidden jaws in the back of its throat to help it grasp and swallow the small fish and other prey items it eats.
When most people think of eels, they probably think of the larger creatures that are often seen in videos with divers. However, this species only grows to about 40 inches in the wild and two feet in captivity. Not only are they common off Australia, but they are found in Mexico, Central America, South America and Africa.
Aside from smaller fish, this species also likes to eat crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans. It turns out, because of the smaller size of this eel, they are popular in the pet trade for saltwater aquarium enthusiasts. Aquarists be warned however, this species can be quite aggressive and the list of species it will tolerate another tank with is somewhat short.
There is probably little doubt that the beauty of this fish is also what adds to the allure of keeping one as a pet. Thanks to the Brave Wilderness crew for finding and educating us on another unique creature of the deep sea!
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
NEXT: PETA IS NOW GOING AFTER FISHERMEN
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