Moray eel

Moray eels are a family of eels in the family Muraenidae. Moray eels can be found all over the world. There are 200 different species in 15 genera. 

Body
Like all eels, moray eels look like a cross between a fish and a snake.

The body is generally patterned. In some species, the inside of the mouth is also patterned. 

Moray eels normally have wide jaws and large sharp teeth, but some types of Moray eel have blunt teeth which help them to eat animals that live in shells. Morays also have pharyngeal jaws inside the main jaws.

Typically, moray eels grow to a length of about 1.5 metres. The largest known moray eel is the Slender giant moray, which can reach 4 metres in length. Moray eels live in coral reefs and rocky areas, at a depth of about 200m.

Habitat

The moray eel can be found in both freshwater habitats and saltwater habitats. However most live in the sea in salt water, never entering fresh water.


Moray eels normally live in warmer waters, but it depends on the type of eel.

Feeding behavior
Morays are opportunistic, carnivorous predators and feed primarily on smaller fish, crabs, and octopuses. 

There are not many animals that eat eels, but groupers, barracudas and sea snakes do eat them. Humans also eat eels.

 Relationship with humans 

Humans eat eels, but sometimes moray eels will give people food poisoning. Moray eels are also caught to put in aquariums for people to look at. Some types of Moray eel may be considered beautiful and hard to find, in which case they will be expensive to buy.

 Genera 

 Subfamily Muraeninae
 Genus Diaphenchelys — 1 species
 Genus Echidna — 11 species
 Genus Enchelycore — 13 species
 Genus Enchelynassa — 1 species
 Genus Gymnomuraena — 1 species
 Genus Gymnothorax — 125 species
 Genus Monopenchelys — 1 species
 Genus Muraena — 10 species
 Genus Pseudechidna — 1 species
 Genus Rhinomuraena — 1 species
 Genus Strophidon — 1 species
 Subfamily Uropterygiinae
 Genus Anarchias — 11 species
 Genus Channomuraena — 2 species
 Genus Cirrimaxilla — 1 species
 Genus Scuticaria — 2 species
 Genus Uropterygius — 20 species

Gallery

 Related pages 

 List of fish common names

References

 Further reading 

 Gross, Miriam J.. The Moray Eel. United States: Rosen Publishing Group's PowerKids Press, 2005.
 Purser, Phillip. Keeping Moray Eels in Aquariums. United States: T.F.H., 2005.
 Didier, Dominique A.. Moray Eel. United States: Cherry Lake Publishing, 2014.
 Goldish, Meish. Moray Eel: Dangerous Teeth. United Kingdom: Bearport Publishing, 2009.
Other websites

 Moray Eels Grab Prey With Alien Jaws
 Smith, J.L.B. 1962. The moray eels of the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 23. Department of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Category:Eels