![]() ![]() Unicorn moray eels ( Echidna unicolor) have ghostly white or tan bodies with dark rings at the tops of their heads.They have a visually interesting appearance and are known to be quite active in their aquariums. Golden-tail moray eels ( Gymnothorax miliaris), also known as yellow canary morays, are popular among fish owners.These spots reflect the amount of camouflage in their environment, so if they live in an area with less coral, they’ll also have fewer spots. Laced moray eels (Gymnothorax favagineus) are also known as leopard morays or honeycomb morays because of the black spots on their white and tan bodies.However, Gangetic morays ( Strophidon sathete) are the longest morays the record breaker was 12.9 feet when caught on the Australian coast in 1927. They measure 9 – 10 feet long and weigh an average of 65 pounds. Giant moray eels ( Gymnothorax javanicus) are the largest morays by mass.They also have bright yellow heads with brown-and-yellow spotted bodies that give them the nickname tiger moray and birds-eye moray. Fangtooth moray eels ( Enchelycore anatina) have jagged, glass-like teeth that protrude from their first set of jaws.They’re also suspected of being hermaphrodites that change from male to female as they age. They resemble Chinese dragons with their colorful appearance and high dorsal fins. ![]() Ribbon moray eels ( Rhinomuraena quaesita) have bright blue bodies with yellow jaws.If you want some of the highlights, however, here are a few of the most notable species! We’d keep you here all day if we tried to talk about every single species of moray eel. What are the most common moray eel species? While they look and function the same, they differ in size, color, diet, and habitat.įor example, some moray eels live in saltwater while others live in freshwater, and there are some that straddle the line in brackish water. There are more than 200 species of moray eel out there. How many species of moray eels are there? On the other hand, the smallest moray eel species can weigh just a few ounces. As previously mentioned, the biggest moray eel species is the giant moray, and it can reach a whopping 65 pounds or more. This is another answer that depends on the species. That’s bigger than both a human and a bottlenose dolphin! 3. On the flip side, the biggest moray eel species is the giant moray eel ( Gymnothorax javanicus), and it can grow up to 9 – 10 feet long. The smallest moray eel species is the minute moray ( Anarchias galapagensis), and it measures just 14 centimeters long. ![]() These creatures have wide mouths with two sets of sharp-toothed jaws that are used for catching and consuming their prey. Their body line is unbroken.Īnother distinctive feature of the moray eel is the jaw. They also lack pelvic and pectoral fins, which is one of the reasons why they have such a smooth, serpentine figure. They have several big similarities in terms of shape.įor example, all moray eels have a dorsal fin that runs the length of their bodies. They are kind of the definition of diversity.ĭespite their differences, however, you can usually tell when you’re looking at a moray eel. They can be smaller than a ruler or larger than the world’s tallest human. They can be spotted, striped, freckled or mottled. They can be black, brown, green, blue, yellow or white. Since there are hundreds of species of moray eels, they can run the gamut in terms of appearance. Let’s learn some facts about these fascinating fish that you may not have known before. You wouldn’t know this if you only listened to headlines about “ Murderous Morays.” Moray eels are some of the weirdest animals in the ocean, but there’s more to the species than their most terrifying features.įor example, they’re actually quite intelligent, and they’ve been known to cooperate with other fish during hunts. They devour their prey with a set of double jaws. Has anyone famous ever died from eating a moray eel? What does pregnancy look like for moray eels? Do moray eels hunt with any other species? What eats a moray eel? Predators and Threats What other names does the moray eel have? Are moray eels ever confused for other animals?
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