Moray Eel

Moray Eel

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gymnothorax
Species: funebris

The green moray eels we saw were both located at Cheeca Rock. This site was characterized by depths around 6-12 feet and good visibility. The two green moray eels found were both nestled in rocks on the seafloor. They had the posterior end of their bodies tucked away in the rocks and only their heads and upper bodies were visible.

The green moray eel has been measured at a maximum of 8 feet and 65 pounds. The average length, however, is around 6 feet. They feed typically at night and on crustaceans, octopuses, and squid and have few predators of their own. Though it is a large fish with a powerful bite, they are typically not aggressive towards humans unless provoked.

The eel has a long dorsal fin that stretches the length of their tubular, muscular body. In spite of its name, the green moray actually has a more dark brown skin tone. What gives it the yellow/green color is the mucus membrane that its cells excrete.

Websites Visited:

https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/discover/species-profiles/gymnothorax-funebris

http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/animals/fish/green-moray-eel.xml

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=106

http://www.aqua.org/explore/animals/green-moray-eel