Moray eel is a fish that is not attractive. You will not want to get involved with her, even without knowing the dangers of too close contact. But we will still try to get closer to her and get to know this mysterious and very interesting creature, surrounded by dark glory.
What does a moray eel look like
The fish, the photo of which you can see in this article, has naked, intricately patterned skin, devoid of scales and covered with a thick protective layer of mucus, small eyes and a huge mouth armed with elongated and very sharp teeth - here is a brief description moray eel appearance. To this we can add an elongated laterally flattened body, devoid of pectoral and ventral fins, making it look like a snake.
Early believed that the teeth of moray eels are poisonous in the same way as those of a snake, but researchers have found that this is not true. But the mucus that covers the body of this amazing fish saves it not only from microbes and mechanical damage, but is also poisonous. From contact with it, traces may appear on human skin, as from a burn.
About interesting features
Moray eel - a fish that has a very different color - it all depends on the habitat of this predator. Its camouflage coloration helps the fish blend into the landscape. Even the inside of her gums is covered with the same pattern as her skin, because moray eels almost always keep their mouth open (too long teeth interfere with closing it).
The moray eel smells its victims at a great distance, but its eyesight, like that of a nocturnal animal, is almost not developed.
Swallow even a large piece torn off by this fish, it is helped by an additional jaw called pharyngeal. It is located in the throat of the moray eel and moves forward as soon as the victim is dangerously close to the predator's mouth.
Moray eels can live both at great depths (up to 60 m) and in the tidal zone. And some of them, for example, those belonging to the genus Gymnothorax, are able to get out of the water, which lingers in the crevices at low tide, and crawl for many meters on dry land in search of an outlet to the sea or to escape the chase.
Moray eel size
The size of these fish can fluctuate with a large amplitude. So, for example, a giant moray eel (in another way it is called Javanese lycodont) reaches a length of up to 3.75 meters, and it weighs up to 45 kg. There are also very small specimens that do not grow more than 10 cm. However, their mouths are also equipped with sharp teeth.
The males of all moray eels are noticeably smaller than the females.
There are up to 200 species of these predators in the world. And most of them live in the warm waters of tropical andsubtropical seas.
In the Red Sea you can meet the genus Echidna moray eels, which include zebra moray eels and snow moray eels, as well as Gymnothorax - geometric, stellar and white-spotted fish. The largest among them reaches 3 m in length.
The eponymous inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea grows up to one and a half meters. It was this monster that served as the basis for the appearance of terrible legends that have come from antiquity.
Mode of existence
Moray eel is a fish that leads the night life. During the day, the predator sits quietly in the crevices of rocks or in the thickets of corals, and after dark comes out to hunt. Her prey are small fish, crabs, octopuses and cephalopods.
Among moray eels there are species that specialize mainly in sea urchins. Such beauties can be recognized by the shape of their teeth. They are excellent for cracking shells.
By the way, watching moray eels hunt is not very pleasant. She tears the victim into small pieces with her teeth, and in just a minute nothing remains of her.
And the moray eel drives the octopus into some crevice and, sticking its head in the same place, tears off its tentacle after tentacle until it is all eaten.
About cooperation with moray eels
Moray eel is a fish about which there are many gloomy legends as an insatiable dangerous creature that knows no pity. But there are other eyewitness accounts that give us her image from the other side.
So, for example, moray eels can cooperate in hunting with sea bass. He, inviting her for prey, swims up tohole and shakes his head. If the moray eel is hungry, she goes after the perch. He leads the fish to the hidden “lunch” and waits for the predator to dive into the hole and catch it, in order to then share it with a hunting mate.
And wrasse fish are completely resignedly allowed to the body of a gloomy predator, as they are well-known and respected doctors. These nimble bright fish, working in pairs, cleanse the body of moray eels, starting with the eyes, moving to the gills and fearlessly swimming into their mouths. And, interestingly, moray eels at the reception of these doctors do not touch not only them, but also other fish that have come to the wrasses for help and are waiting for their turn.
What is unusual about the saber-toothed moray eel
Separately, perhaps, it is worth mentioning moray eels living in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. For the black stripes that adorn the yellow body, they are also called tiger moray eels. The jaws of these predators are decorated with two rows of teeth of different sizes. By the way, this is another special sign of these fish.
The fact is that the saber-toothed moray eel is armed with transparent, glass-looking teeth, which, however, can easily crush the shell of a crab or cancer. This shining weapon is kept clean by cleaner shrimp who live safely in the jaws of the fearsome creature.
Does moray eels attack humans?
This gloomy and unwelcoming-looking creature is, of course, not safe for humans. But a moray eel bite will follow only if the person himself becomes a source of danger for her. That is, if a diver tries to put his arm or leg into the hole,where this fish is hiding, then let it not be surprised by the reaction of a frightened animal. Moreover, you should not pursue the moray eel floating away from you.
It is dangerous and to shoot from a harpoon into a crevice, fearing that there may be a predator. After all, if she really ends up there, then, getting angry, she will definitely try to attack you.
Remember that this fish does not just attack a creature that is larger than it, so leave it alone - and it will not touch you. Moreover, if you are careful and prudent, then the moray eel (the fish, the photo of which you had the opportunity to see here) can become your friend. Famous ocean explorers and divers have repeatedly written about this.
