Moray eels are shy, are you?
- Moray eels are a family of roughly 200 different species of eel, found mainly in the world’s tropical and sub-tropical salt waters.
- A moray eel looks similar to a snake, however, it has a dorsal fin that sits behind its head and along its body.
- Moray eels are divided into 15 genera and are also known as the family of Muraenidae.
- Moray eels can grow to be 0.11 to 4 metres (0.375 to 13 feet) in length, and while they do not have a good sense of sight, their smell sense is acute.
- The head and body of moray eels, and the inner section of the mouth in some species, are usually marked with patterns that differ, depending on the species.
Moray Eel
Image courtesy of Thomas Quine/Flickr
- Moray eels have an outer layer of mucus that can be poisonous, varying by species, and some eels may be toxic if eaten, due to their diet.
- Moray eels prey on sea snakes; molluscs and cephalopods like octopus and squid; fish and crustaceans.
- Moray eels are hunted by large fish and sharks, and have a life span of approximately ten to thirty years.
- Moray eels do interact and cooperate with some other marine species, in the process of hunting.
- Moray eels are typically afraid of people, attacking humans to self defend or mistake human fingers for food, and in which case, the eel cannot let go as it latches on with its large teeth.
Bibliography:
Moray Eel, 2014, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/moray-eel/
Moray Eel, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moray_eel
