Japanese eels can escape predators’ stomach through their gills, finds study

[Still Waters]

It sounds like the plot of a horror movie – a predator swallows its prey only for the creature to burst out of its captor’s body. But it seems Japanese eels do just that.

Scientists in Japan have discovered that when swallowed by a dark sleeper fish, the eels can escape.

In a manoeuvre reminiscent of the fosbury flop high-jump technique, the eels back up the digestive tract of the predator fish towards its oesophagus, poke their tail through its gills, and complete their attempt at freedom by pulling their head free.

The researchers say they initially assumed the eels were escaping the predator via its mouth.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/sep/09/japanese-eels-escape-predator-stomach-gills-study