''Saccopharynx'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of deep-sea

eel Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes (), which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage ...

s with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the derived lineage of the "

saccopharyngiforms The saccopharyngiformes are a derived lineage of unusual eels within the order Anguilliformes, and includes families Cyematidae, Monognathidae, Eurypharyngidae, Saccopharyngidae, and the proposed family Neocyematidae. Most of the fish in this gro ...

," which includes other mid-water eel species. The name is from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

''saccus'' meaning "sack" and Greek φάρυγξ, ''

pharynx The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the oesophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its struc ...

''. They are generally black in color, and can grow to lengths of 2 m (6.5 feet). They have been found at depths of 1,800 m (6,000 ft), and are known to inhabit the eastern and western Atlantic oceans, and the gulf stream. Their tails are tipped by a luminous, bulb-shaped organ. The exact purpose of this organ is unknown, although it is most likely used as a lure, similar to the

esca The anglerfish are fish of the teleost order Lophiiformes (). They are bony fish named for their characteristic mode of predation, in which a modified luminescent fin ray (the esca or illicium) acts as a lure for other fish. The luminescence co ...

anglerfish The anglerfish are fish of the teleost order Lophiiformes (). They are bony fish named for their characteristic mode of predation, in which a modified luminescent fin ray (the esca or illicium) acts as a lure for other fish. The luminescence ...

Species

The genus has ten recognized species: * ''

Saccopharynx ampullaceus ''Saccopharynx ampullaceus'', referred to as the gulper eel, gulper, taillight gulper or pelican-fish, is an ocean-dwelling eel found in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are found up to a depth of .

'' Harwood, 1827 (Gulper eel) * ''

Saccopharynx berteli ''Saccopharynx berteli'' is a species of ray-finned fish within the family Saccopharyngidae. It is known from a single holotype collected from the central Pacific Ocean through an open fishing net at a depth of 1100 meters in 1977. The individual ...

'' Tighe & J. G. Nielsen, 2000 * ''

Saccopharynx harrisoni ''Saccopharynx'' is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the deriv ...

'' Beebe, 1932 * ''

Saccopharynx hjorti ''Saccopharynx'' is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the deriv ...

Bertin Bertin ( la, Bertinus; 615 – ''c''. 709 AD), also known as Saint Bertin the Great, was the Franks, Frankish abbot of a monastery in Saint-Omer later named the Abbey of Saint Bertin after him. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic and Ort ...

, 1938 * '' Saccopharynx lavenbergi'' J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985 * ''

Saccopharynx paucovertebratis ''Saccopharynx paucovertebratis'' is a species of ray-finned fish within the family Saccopharyngidae. The species is known from a single a single holotype collected from a fishing trawl west of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic O ...

'' J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985 * ''

Saccopharynx ramosus ''Saccopharynx'' is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the deriv ...

'' J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985 * ''

Saccopharynx schmidti ''Saccopharynx'' is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the deriv ...

, 1934 (Whiptail gulper) * ''

Saccopharynx thalassa ''Saccopharynx thalassa'' is a species of ray-finned fish within the family Saccopharyngidae. Its known to live in the Eastern Atlantic near Madeira and the Canary Islands, and the Western Atlantic near Bermuda at depths up to 1,700 meters. It g ...

'' J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985 * ''

Saccopharynx trilobatus ''Saccopharynx'' is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the deriv ...

'' J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985

References

Saccopharyngidae Ray-finned fish genera Marine fish genera Deep sea fish Taxa named by Samuel L. Mitchill {{Saccopharyngiformes-stub