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
* occupying a dead patch reef, located in Kona, Hawaii]]
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.

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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

File:TakamayuUBf.jpg|*Anarchias seychellensis*
File:FMIB 47184 Gymomuraena vittata, from Cuba.jpeg|*Channomuraena vittata*
File:Echidna nebulosa Réunion.jpg|*Echidna nebulosa*
File:Echida polyzona.jpg|*Enchelycore schismatorhynchus*
File:FMIB 42381 Enchelynassa vinolentus (Jordan & Evermann).jpeg|*Enchelynassa canina*
File:Gymnomuraena zebra by NPS.jpg|*Gymnomuraena zebra*
File:Laced Moray.jpg|*Gymnothorax favagineus*
File:Gymnothorax rueppelliae Réunion.JPG|*Gymnothorax rueppelliae*
File:Monopenchelys acuta - pone.0010676.g012.png|*Monopenchelys acuta*
File:Muraena helena swimming v2.jpg|*Muraena helena*
File:Pseudechidna brummer).JPG|*Pseudechidna brummeri*
File:Ribbon Moray (Rhinomuraena quaesita) (6052858389).jpg|*Rhinomuraena quaesita*
File:Scuticaria tigrina.jpg|*Scuticaria tigrina*
File:Strophidon sathete.jpg|*Strophidon sathete*
File:Uropterygius xanthopterus - 2.JPG|*Uropterygius xanthopterus*
File:Kidako moray.JPG|*Gymnothorax kidako*

## 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.