The gulper eel

What's the strangest animal in the ocean? In this video, scientists exploring the deep ocean make a weird (yet wonderful) discovery.

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. You can also read the transcript.

Preparation

Transcript

- Can we take a look at that?
- What is that?
- Oh, wow!
- Looks like a Muppet!
- What are you?
- What is that?
- It's like a, er … huh …
- Oh it's …
- It's a fish.
- It's defensive.
- It's in the water column, isn't it?
- That's a fish?
- What? I don't know.
- What? Wow!
- That's what it looks like to me.
- Is it engorged or is it like that?
- Is it mad?
- Yeah!
- Touch it!
- Is it just … ?
- Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!
- Look at his little face!
- He's kind of like Googly Eyes.
- I think he ate too much!
- We …
- He's full.
- Wow. We really ticked him off.
- Uh-oh … oh!
- Wow!
- That's their defence. Oh, wow, what?
- Are those just like the gill arches, er, the gills?
- Some kind of …
- Wow!
- It just got so big!
(Multiple laughs)
- It's all bladder!
- Oh my God!
- That's his defence, like, 'Let me blow up so I can show them how big I am.'
- Ooh.
- Incredible.
- Wow.
- Yep, he's doing the shake.
- What! OH MY GOD! Wow!
- Is that a gulper eel, then?
- Yes.
- I guess so, yeah. That is crazy …
- That was awesome!
- That was so awesome.
- What a way to end the watch, right?
- Yeah, exactly!
- Bye!
- It's amazing!

© National Geographic

Discussion

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Submitted by dhiyaa on Sun, 24/09/2023 - 20:02

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gulper it's strang wow this is frist time i see gulper fish

Submitted by jyoti Chaudhary on Fri, 13/05/2022 - 12:41

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Have you ever seen a creature act like this?

I have never ever seen it before. so lovely creature it is. I wish I see this type of creature in my life.

Submitted by Miguelitorico1996 on Fri, 28/01/2022 - 03:08

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I visited the Cali zoo four years ago and there were two bengal tigers who felt in danger when they saw me through the glass, one of them even tried to attack me and I could see his eyes right in front of me. It was a unique experience.

Submitted by fidaasiddig on Tue, 05/11/2019 - 12:10

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Hello It's in the water column, could you please explain the sentence
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Submitted by Peter M. on Fri, 08/11/2019 - 07:11

In reply to by fidaasiddig

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Hello fidaasiddig,

The water column describes the layers of water at different depths, and allows scientists and divers to talk about their different characteristics. I imagine the scientist who said this was saying that the creature is in the water column rather than being on the sea floor, for example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_column

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Raqueline Monteiro on Thu, 05/09/2019 - 20:14

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Oh, My comment is the first??? So cool! I am oceanographer and I stayed a ship in the middle of Atlantic Ocean in 2018. At night generally we work in the lab on ship. One of those nights, I was taking samples and I saw squids attacking our instruments that were coming back to the ship. I never saw an animal that way. Some people said that probably the light left them angry.
Hey Pizzy. Come on, don`t get sad. We need the shop assistant, we need good ones as much we need any professional and I'm sure you`re one of those who have what it takes. Keep it forward.
Hey Raqueline, what a job. It might be incredibly amazing to see sea life that close. Luck you and thanks for sharing.