Wow, so that's where the idea for Alien came from

[firecat]

This shark, called a Japanese Goblin Shark, has a pop-out mouth inside its mouth. This video shows how it works. (Japanese language soundtrack.)

http://www.bofunk.com/video/7371/prehistoric_japanese_goblin_shark_alive.html

(Oops, was that a spoiler?)

Comments

[submarine-bells.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I've never seen a vertebrate with jaws that did that. Wouldn't want to meet that little fellow on a dark night. :-)

(BTW, the Alien jaw mechanism was, I believe, actually inspired by dragonfly larva jaws, which have that popout mechanism too.)

[firecat]

Cool, I didn't know that!

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

I got the impression someone studied entomology and had nightmares they converted into the Alien script.

[marea93.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of my first mother-in-law. (ba da da ching!)

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Dude. "Akuma" is right.

Yup

[the-ogre.livejournal.com]

Moray Eels also have a second internal jaw, with teeth.

[djm4]

Yes. You get to meet these in the abyss on Endless Ocean on the Wii. Although they don't bite you (nothing in that game attacks you; you can pet a Lionfish or poke Great White without getting hurt).