Yawning Gape: Pacific Sleeper Sharks Swallow Large Prey Whole

A massive shark engulfs prey nearly its own size in darkness.

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Suction feeding is a common strategy among deep-sea fishes operating in low-light conditions.

Pacific sleeper sharks possess large mouths and suction-feeding capability, enabling them to ingest substantial prey items, including large fish and marine mammals, in low-visibility deep waters.

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In habitats where chasing prey is inefficient, a wide gape and powerful suction allow a slow-moving predator to seize sizable animals weighing hundreds of kilograms.

This feeding strategy supports the maintenance of extreme body size in food-limited ecosystems, where capturing a single large prey item can sustain a giant predator for extended periods.

Source

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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