Eels have double jaws like the monster from Alien

[BigEvil]

I found this interesting. Its from the blog Not Exactly Rocket Science.

Moray eels attack with second pair of 'Alien-style' jaws (http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/08/moray_eels_attack_with_second_pair_of_alien-style_jaws.php)

These 'pharyngeal jaws' are housed in the eel's throat. When the main jaws close on an unlucky fish, the second set launches forward into the mouth, snags the prey with terrifying, backward-pointing teeth and drags it back into the throat. In fractions of a second, the prey is bitten twice and swallowed

There are some nice drawings on the site showing the secondary jaws and how they work. I now have a new found fear of eels, (they were scarey enough without the double jaws).

[Monad]

Several fish groups have pharyngeal jaws - cichlids for example have made good use of having 2 sets of jaws to evolve a great range of feeding apparatus.

[Ray Moscow]

Dragonfly nymphs also have scary, alien mouthparts. (http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/scifismarts/Scifibugz1.html)

[BigEvil]

Dragonfly nymphs also have scary, alien mouthparts. (http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/scifismarts/Scifibugz1.html)

Great, now I am scared of nymphs.:(

The eels were the first I had heard of this, but as you and Monad have pointed out, it isn't really a unique thing.

[TheBear]

Movies. Aren't they great? :D

[premjan]

Goblin sharks have weird jaws too.

[B.H.]

I thought grass snakes had two sets of teeth. One set was in the mouth and the other was back in the throat.

[BigEvil]

I thought grass snakes had two sets of teeth. One set was in the mouth and the other was back in the throat.

According to wikipedia:

The bite is not dangerous as there are no teeth in the jaws. Just before the throat however there are teeth that can inject poisonous saliva in a prey prior to being swallowed. The snake can not use these teeth for biting.

[B.H.]

I thought grass snakes had two sets of teeth. One set was in the mouth and the other was back in the throat.

According to wikipedia:

The bite is not dangerous as there are no teeth in the jaws. Just before the throat however there are teeth that can inject poisonous saliva in a prey prior to being swallowed. The snake can not use these teeth for biting.

Thanks for the correction.:)

[BigEvil]

You were close, and knew more than I did.

[Berthold]

Dragonfly nymphs also have scary, alien mouthparts. (http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/scifismarts/Scifibugz1.html)
If you like them, you will love this one (http://home.honolulu.hawaii.edu/~pine/book1qts/opabin2.jpg).

Opabinia, Cambrian, Burgess shale