Japanese Eels Escape Predators' Stomachs Through Gills, Study Reveals

Scientists use X-ray video to document juvenile eels' remarkable escape method from inside predatory fish.

Researchers observed juvenile Japanese eels escaping from the stomachs of dark sleeper fish by swimming through the esophagus and exiting via the gills.
The study, published in Current Biology, marks the first time scientists have captured footage of prey escaping a predator's stomach.
Out of 32 eels swallowed during the experiments, 13 managed to reach the fish's gills, and 9 successfully escaped.
X-ray video technology was crucial in revealing the eels' escape routes and techniques, providing new insights into predator-prey interactions.
This discovery raises questions about whether other slender-bodied species might employ similar escape strategies.