One of the most interesting, though very secretive, fish.
Their body is nearly all muscle and they are extremely strong.
During the day, they usually hide in holes and crevices, and go out hunting during the night.
Large individuals are up to several meters long.
Despite the scary appearance (open mouth), they are usually quite timid.
They lack an operculum (gill cover), thus they need to open and close their mouths
for respiration (to force water through the gills).
They open their mouth more of the need to filter water through the gills.
Very often, in their mouths or near the fish, cleaner wrasses may be seen.
Often hand-fed by divers;
however, may be responsible for accidental injuries to humans (that can even lead to hospitalization).
Moray eels have a very well-developed sense of smell, less that of sight.
So, if they had been fed with fish, the smell remains in the water and on divers' hands.
The moray cannot tell the difference then and may attack.
Details:
Place: Azores, Faial island
Place: Azores, Faial island
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The largest Info-Pacific moray.
Best identified by the numerous small dark spots on top of the head and back.
Length: up to 2.4 m.
Weight: up to 30 kg.
Depth: down to 50 m.
The largest Info-Pacific moray.
Best identified by the numerous small dark spots on top of the head and back.
Length: up to 2.4 m.
Weight: up to 30 kg.
Depth: down to 50 m.
Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)
Place: Maldives - South Male Atoll - Kandooma Thila
Place: Maldives - South Male Atoll - Kandooma Thila
You'll find cleaner wrasses near (or in the mouths) of many moray eels
Place: Maldives - South Male Atoll - Kandooma Thila
You'll find cleaner wrasses near (or in the mouths) of many moray eels
Place: Maldives - South Male Atoll - Kandooma Thila
Some look as if they have no teeth, but some show jaws full of them (and sharp-looking at that!)
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Machafushi wreck
Some look as if they have no teeth, but some show jaws full of them (and sharp-looking at that!)
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Machafushi wreck
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Maamigili Beyru
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Maamigili Beyru
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Broken Rock
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Broken Rock
Sometimes they hide not so well; but then you can appreciate their full size
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Dhigurah Arches
Sometimes they hide not so well; but then you can appreciate their full size
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Dhigurah Arches
Even though the moray got out of its hiding place during the day, it looked like it was looking for a place to hide
Place: Maldives - North Ari Atoll - Fish Head
Even though the moray got out of its hiding place during the day, it looked like it was looking for a place to hide
Place: Maldives - North Ari Atoll - Fish Head
And here, two hid under the same rock
Place: Maldives - North Ari Atoll - Ellaidhoo House Reef
And here, two hid under the same rock
Place: Maldives - North Ari Atoll - Ellaidhoo House Reef
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Giravaru Faru
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Giravaru Faru
Place: Yap
Place: Palau
Place: Palau
Place: Yap
Place: Palau
Place: Yap
Place: Yap
Place: Egypt - Marsa Alam - Nada Resort house reef
Place: Egypt - Marsa Alam - Marsa Murain
Place: Egypt - Marsa Alam - Marsa Murain
Place: Egypt - Marsa Alam - Nada Resort house reef
Place: Seychelles
Place: Belize - Victoria Canyon
Place: Belize - Victoria Canyon
Place: Belize - Victoria Canyon
Place: Belize - Victoria Canyon
Place: Belize - Esmeralda
Place: Belize - San Pedro Canyon
Place: Belize - San Pedro Canyon
Place: Azores, Pico island
Place: Azores, Faial island
Place: Djibouti
Place: Djibouti
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Place: Egypt - Dahab - Canyon
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Canyon
Place: Seychelles
Place: Seychelles
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Also known as Tessellated Moray.
My favorite, and the prettiest one (out of those that I had the chance to meet).
Basically white, with black blotches and interspaces forming a honeycomb patterns;
sizes of blotches vary depending on habitat.
Length: up to 2 m.
Depth: 6 to 45 m.
Also known as Tessellated Moray.
My favorite, and the prettiest one (out of those that I had the chance to meet).
Basically white, with black blotches and interspaces forming a honeycomb patterns;
sizes of blotches vary depending on habitat.
Length: up to 2 m.
Depth: 6 to 45 m.
Honeycomb moray (Gymnothorax favagineus)
Place: Maldives - South Male Atoll - Kandooma Thila
Place: Maldives - South Male Atoll - Kandooma Thila
On Back Faru, there were more Honeycomb Morays than Giant Morays
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
On Back Faru, there were more Honeycomb Morays than Giant Morays
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
Note the cleaner wrasse in the moray's mouth
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
Note the cleaner wrasse in the moray's mouth
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
One got a bit out of its hole
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
One got a bit out of its hole
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
It looks as if it has not teeth...
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
It looks as if it has not teeth...
Place: Maldives - North Male Atoll - Back Faru
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Length: up to 1.3 m.
Weight: up to 10 kg.
Length: up to 1.3 m.
Weight: up to 10 kg.
Mediterranean moray (Muraena helena)
Place: Gozo
Place: Gozo
Place: Gozo
Place: Croatia, Vis island
Place: Croatia, Vis island
Place: Croatia, Vis island
Place: Croatia, Vis island
Place: Italy, Ischia island
Place: Italy, Ischia island
Place: Italy, Ischia island
Place: Azores, Faial island
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Characteristic mosaic pattern and curved open jaws - dramatic!
Length: up to 1.5 m.
Depth: 20 to 40 m.
Characteristic mosaic pattern and curved open jaws - dramatic!
Length: up to 1.5 m.
Depth: 20 to 40 m.
Mosaic moray (Enchelycore ramosa)
The moray looked dead laying thus on the rocks;
when I noticed it breathing, it was to late to dive and take a better picture... :-(
Place: New Zealand - Aorangi Island - Rikoriko Cave
The moray looked dead laying thus on the rocks;
when I noticed it breathing, it was to late to dive and take a better picture... :-(
Place: New Zealand - Aorangi Island - Rikoriko Cave
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Place: Egypt - Dahab - Canyon
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Canyon
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Lighthouse
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Lighthouse
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Zak's Canyon
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Coral Garden
Place: Egypt - Marsa Alam - Nada Resort house reef
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Prefers shallow waters, juveniles often found in tidal zones.
Mouth is white inside; outer dark skin with white spots.
A small black smudge appears at the gill opening.
Most often found in Western Pacific.
Length: up to 60 cm. (1 m.)
Depth: 2 to 25 m.
Prefers shallow waters, juveniles often found in tidal zones.
Mouth is white inside; outer dark skin with white spots.
A small black smudge appears at the gill opening.
Most often found in Western Pacific.
Length: up to 60 cm. (1 m.)
Depth: 2 to 25 m.
White-mouth moray / Spotted moray (Gymnothorax meleagris)
Place: Yap
Place: Seychelles
Place: Seychelles
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Also known as Leopard Moray.
Similar to Giant Moray;
named for its yellow body markings showing through its overlay of brown;
large individuals have a purplish gray snout;
a spot or patch at the gill opening.
Length: up to 1.2 m.
Depth: 2 to 15 m.
Also known as Leopard Moray.
Similar to Giant Moray;
named for its yellow body markings showing through its overlay of brown;
large individuals have a purplish gray snout;
a spot or patch at the gill opening.
Length: up to 1.2 m.
Depth: 2 to 15 m.
Yellow-margin moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Broken Rock
Place: Maldives - South Ari Atoll - Broken Rock
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Coral Garden
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Coral Garden
Place: Seychelles
Place: Djibouti
Place: Djibouti
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Place: Seychelles
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Here you'll find pictures of those moray eels
that I couldn't identify 100%.
Here you'll find pictures of those moray eels
that I couldn't identify 100%.
Other
Place: Caribbean - St. Vincent - Wallilabou Bay
Place: Caribbean - St. Vincent - Wallilabou Bay
This one was near the beach; sometimes a wave would flip it to dry land
Place: Maldives - Bandos
This one was near the beach; sometimes a wave would flip it to dry land
Place: Maldives - Bandos
Place: Egypt - Dahab - Golden Blocks
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