An eel tries to escape from the belly of a fish that has swallowed it whole. Scientists have discovered how they manage to get out.
Researchers observed Japanese eels being swallowed by fish and then reappearing in tanks. They found that the eels were able to escape through the gills of the fish. Out of 54 eels swallowed whole, 28 were able to escape this way.
The scientists filmed the process by injecting the eels with a special liquid that shows up on X-rays. They discovered that 12 out of 32 eels managed to bend their tails and escape through the gills. of these eels, nine were successful in getting out.
Other animals like the aquatic beetle can also escape from predators. The researchers are now studying if other eel species can do the same. “The Japanese eel is the only fish confirmed to escape from the predatory fish’s digestive tract,” said the lead scientist.
Some animals have unique ways to escape from predators, like the beetle crawling out of a frog’s body. The study of escape strategies in nature continues.
Vocabulary List:
- Digestive /daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/ (adjective): Relating to the process of digesting food.
- Escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ (verb): To break free from confinement or control.
- Aquatic /əˈkwætɪk/ (adjective): Relating to water; living or growing in water.
- Eels /iːlz/ (noun): Long slender fish known for their elongated bodies and slippery texture.
- Predator /ˈprɛd.ə.tər/ (noun): An animal that hunts and feeds on other animals.
- Strategies /ˈstræt.ə.dʒiz/ (noun): Plans of action designed to achieve a specific goal.
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