These animals actually have two jaws! The second set of jaws, known as the pharyngeal jaws, are a characteristic of all fish, but most are located closer to the mouth are used to crush prey. They also have small eyes and a long nose, as well as large teeth used to tear flesh or grasp slippery prey.Īnother defining feature of the moray eel is their jaw. Most species lack pectoral and pelvic fins, adding to their serpentine appearance. One of the most defining features of the moray eel is the dorsal fin, that extends from just behind the head along the back and joins seamlessly with the caudal and anal fins. This allows sand granules to adhere to the sides of their burrows in sand-dwelling morays, thus making the walls of the burrow more permanent due to the glycosylation of mucins in mucus. Morays secrete a protective mucus over their smooth, scaleless skin, which in some species contains a toxin. Some moray eels, such as the banded moray eel, can even change their colors to better camouflage. Their body is generally patterned, usually spotted, striped, freckled or mottled. They also have varying weights, from just a few ounces to 66 pounds.Ĭolorwise, they can be brown, gray, green, blue, white, orange or yellow. The longest of the species is the slender moray eel at 13 feet long. They can measure between 1 and 13 feet long, with the smallest moray being the dwarf, which can be found off the coast of Hawaii. Moray eels can vary in appearance depending on the species. They’re also captured and eaten in some countries, which may be contributing to a decline in population. However, their population is unknown and they are threatened by water pollution and loss of habitat. These animals are not endangered and are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, they are also a popular species among aquarium hobbyists for their hardiness, flexible diets, disease resistance, and charisma. Moray eels are dangerous, with very sharp teeth that can pierce human skin. The name “Moray” comes from derives from Portuguese moréia, which itself derives from Latin mūrēna. They feed primarily on smaller fish, crabs, and octopuses. Moray eels grow to a length of about 1.5 metres, and live in coral reefs and rocky areas, at a depth of about 200m. They can be distinguished from each other by the location of their fins. There is a subfamily of Muraenidae Uropterygiinae. There are approximately 200 species in 15 genera which are almost exclusively marine, but several species are regularly seen in brackish water, and a few are found in fresh water. Moray eels, comprising the family Muraenidae, are a family of eels whose members are found worldwide.
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