Domain: Eukarya  The Gulper eel is multi-cellular.  Its cells have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles.

Kingdom: Animalia  The Gulper eel is motile with no cell wall.

Phylum:  Chordata  The Gulper eel belongs with the chordates because it has a notocord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle and a muscular tail.

Class:  Osteichthyes  The Gulper eel is a vertebrate and bony fish.  This class has cranial bones, rooted teeth and medial insertion of mandibular muscle in the lower jaw.  They also have a swim bladder or lung.

Order: Saccopharyngiformes  The Gulper eel lacks the symplectic bone and the bones of the opercle, scales, pelvic bone and swim bladder.

Family:  Eurypharyngidae   The gulper eel is the only member of this family because of the presence of its huge mouth.

Genus:  Eurypharynx  The gulper eel is the only member of this genus because of its large gulper mouth and unhinged jaw.

Species:  Eurypharynx pelecanoides