The existence of naturally occurring narrow- and broad-headed individuals within the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) populations is since long known. Previous studies demonstrated sexual differences in growth, with females growing faster than males. However, this appeared to be irrespective of the observed difference in head shape. The different head shapes have been related to different diets, where broad-headed eels would feed on bigger and harder preys. Although some research has been focusing on this dimorphism, very little is still known about how and when this dimorphism arises and what parts of the body plan are involved. So the focus of this research is to determine what the characteristics are of the head shape dimorphism, when it arises, what the structural and functional implications are on the architectural design, how it is related to the feeding during their life, and so on...
This research is done in collaboration with the UA (Anthony Herrel and Erik De Deckere), INBO (Claude Belpaire and Caroline Geeraerts) and since recently also the KULeuven (Filip Volckaert and Gregory Maes).