Pharyngeal jaws

Pharyngeal jaws

Pharyngeal jaws are a "second set" of jaws contained within an animal's mouth, or pharynx, distinct from the primary jaws.

The most notable example of a species possessing a pharyngeal jaw is the Moray Eel. Moray Eels actually do have an inner set of jaws, which have their own teeth. Due to difficulties caused by their body posture, Moray eels cannot swallow food normally like other fish. Instead, when Moray eels bite prey, their inner set of jaws is pulled forward, and bites down on the prey to grip it. Then the pharyngeal jaws are retracted, pulling the prey down the Moray eel's gullet and allowing it to be swallowed.

Probably the most famous example of pharyngeal jaws is the fictional extraterrestrial creature from the "Alien" film series called the "Xenomorph." In the films, Xenomorphs are depicted with a secondary, inner set of jaws mounted onto a proboscis inside of the throat (in place of a tongue). The proboscis can be rapidly shot forward with incredible force, and coupled with the sharp jaws on the end, easily tear completely through the victim's body in an instant. The Predalien, a hybrid between a Xenomorph and a Predator also possesses this same pharyngeal jaw only this one is seen to be used for killing victims and implanting embryos into them through a method of oral impregnation.

External links

* [http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=109985&org=NSF National Science Foundation article explaining Moray Eel pharyngeal jaws]
* [http://websrvr80il.audiovideoweb.com/il80web20024/nsf/mehta.mov Video of a Moray Eel's pharyngeal jaws, seen while feeding]


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