Saccopharyngiformes is an
order of unusual
ray-finned fish, superficially similar to
eels, but with multiple internal differences. Most of the fish in this order are deep-sea types known from only a handful of specimens, such as the
pelican eel. Some species are
bioluminescent. Some, such as the "swallowers", can live as deep as 3,000 m (10,000 feet) in the ocean, well into the
aphotic zone. Saccopharyngiformes were found by deep sea fishermen's nets. Extensive research has not been conducted on them due to being indirectly observed.