Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Personalized Food Avoidance Dietary Approach for Psoriasis and Hypertension: A Case Study and Pilot Trial.

Nigerian journal of clinical practice·2026
Same author

THE RETTENMEYER ARMY ANT GUEST COLLECTION: A MULTIFACETED RESOURCE FOR INVESTIGATING THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF THE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ARMY ANTS AND THEIR "GUESTS".

The Journal of parasitology·2026
Same author

Form-function relationships underlie rapid dietary changes in a lizard.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2023
Same author

The relationship between bite force, morphology, and diet in southern African agamids.

BMC ecology and evolution·2021
Same author

Vitamine B12 deficiency in children: a diagnostic challenge.

Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica·2021
Same author

Resistance of Four Inbred Maize Lines to Inoculation with 20 Isolates of Maize streak virus from Zimbabwe.

Plant disease·2019

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Building Finite Element Models to Investigate Zebrafish Jaw Biomechanics
14:11

Building Finite Element Models to Investigate Zebrafish Jaw Biomechanics

Published on: December 3, 2016

10.5K

Broader head, stronger bite: In vivo bite forces in European eel Anguilla anguilla.

J De Meyer1, A Herrel1,2, C Belpaire3

  • 1Department of Biology Evolutionary, Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Journal of Fish Biology
|December 2, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Broad-headed European eels (Anguilla anguilla) exhibit significantly higher bite force compared to narrow-headed variants. This difference is linked to their distinct feeding strategies and prey preferences, impacting ecological roles.

Keywords:
Anguillabite forcedimorphismfeeding performance

More Related Videos

Implantation of a New Micro Acoustic Tag in Juvenile Pacific Lamprey and American Eel
08:36

Implantation of a New Micro Acoustic Tag in Juvenile Pacific Lamprey and American Eel

Published on: March 16, 2019

11.1K
Handling and Treatment of Male European Eels Anguilla anguilla for Hormonal Maturation and Sperm Cryopreservation
08:24

Handling and Treatment of Male European Eels Anguilla anguilla for Hormonal Maturation and Sperm Cryopreservation

Published on: January 28, 2018

8.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Building Finite Element Models to Investigate Zebrafish Jaw Biomechanics
14:11

Building Finite Element Models to Investigate Zebrafish Jaw Biomechanics

Published on: December 3, 2016

10.5K
Implantation of a New Micro Acoustic Tag in Juvenile Pacific Lamprey and American Eel
08:36

Implantation of a New Micro Acoustic Tag in Juvenile Pacific Lamprey and American Eel

Published on: March 16, 2019

11.1K
Handling and Treatment of Male European Eels Anguilla anguilla for Hormonal Maturation and Sperm Cryopreservation
08:24

Handling and Treatment of Male European Eels Anguilla anguilla for Hormonal Maturation and Sperm Cryopreservation

Published on: January 28, 2018

8.2K

Area of Science:

  • Ichthyology
  • Functional Morphology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) displays distinct yellow-eel phenotypes, including variations in head shape.
  • Head morphology in fishes is often correlated with diet and feeding mechanics.
  • Previous observations suggest broad-headed eels consume larger, harder prey than narrow-headed eels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between head shape phenotypes and bite force in yellow-stage European eels.
  • To determine if broad-headed Anguilla anguilla exert greater bite force than narrow-headed and intermediate morphs.
  • To understand the functional implications of head morphology for feeding ecology.

Main Methods:

  • Study focused on 99 yellow-eel stage Anguilla anguilla specimens.
  • Categorization of eels into broad-headed, narrow-headed, and intermediate head shape phenotypes.
  • In vivo measurement of bite force across the different phenotypes.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant difference in bite force was observed between the head shape morphs.
  • Broad-headed Anguilla anguilla demonstrated higher in vivo bite force compared to narrow-headed and intermediate eels.
  • This finding supports the hypothesis linking head morphology to feeding capabilities.

Conclusions:

  • Head shape is a key determinant of bite force capacity in European eels.
  • The broad-headed phenotype is adapted for consuming harder, larger prey requiring greater bite force.
  • Ecological niche partitioning may be influenced by these functional morphological differences.