Moray eels possess a terrifying secondary set of jaws located entirely in their throat that forcefully shoots forward to drag captured prey down into their digestive tract.

How a Moray’s Throat Jaws Catch Prey

A moray eel does not rely on suction to pull food toward the back of its mouth. Its narrow head and elongated body make that feeding strategy less effective than it is for many fish. Instead, the eel uses a second set of jaws in its throat—called pharyngeal jaws—to move prey inward.

A Two-Part Capture

First, the jaws at the front of the mouth bite the prey. Muscles then draw the pharyngeal jaws forward, into the mouth cavity. Their teeth grip the prey, and the jaws retract, carrying it toward the esophagus, the passage leading to the stomach.

The motion is unusual because these jaws do not simply wait at the back of the throat for food to arrive. They move forward to meet prey already caught by the mouth, then pull it deeper inside. The front jaws hold on while the throat jaws take over.

Why the Extra Jaws Matter

This arrangement gives the eel a way to transport slippery prey without depending on a strong inward rush of water. It is a mechanical workaround: rather than drawing the meal down its narrow mouth, the moray reaches forward with its throat jaws and brings the meal inward. What looks like a second bite is part of the eel’s swallowing system.