Here's why:
* Deep-Sea Food Web: Even in the depths of the ocean, a food web exists. Larger, more aggressive predators will target gulper eels as a potential food source.
* Size Matters: Despite their impressive size, gulper eels are not the largest creatures in the deep sea. They are vulnerable to larger fish, sharks, and even some marine mammals that venture into the deep.
* Vulnerability: While the gulper eel's massive mouth and expandable stomach are impressive adaptations, they can also make them vulnerable. A predator could potentially attack the eel's vulnerable body while it is attempting to swallow prey.
Specific predators are hard to pinpoint: Research on deep-sea ecosystems is still ongoing, and detailed knowledge of specific predator-prey relationships for the gulper eel is limited. However, it is reasonable to assume that sharks, larger fish, and perhaps even some squid species could potentially prey on gulper eels.
In summary: The gulper eel, while an intriguing creature, is not immune to predation in the deep sea. While exact predator-prey relationships are still being studied, it is clear that larger predators in the deep ocean pose a threat to this unique fish.