No effort has been made to properly format the HTML version of the Marine Life Profiles, We suggest using the Adobe PDF format which includes images and has been formatted correctly. Their abundance cannot be truly appreciated because most species are small and remain well hidden within the reef.
Moray eels are true bony fishes with bodies highly modified to suit their life style.
The elongate head bears a large, gaping mouth and tube-like nostrils. The mouth is held open so that water can be pumped over the gills. The gill cover is reduced to a small hole for streamlining and protection of the delicate gills. Lacking paired fins, eels swim by moving their entire body side to side in a S-shaped wave. Using this wave pattern an eel can move forward or backward, an important advantage if living within the narrow holes of the reef.