MORAY EELS

Morays are true eels and fall inside the order muraenidae which also includes snake eels and congers. All told, it is thought there are over 600 species across this broad group, more than any other fishy family except perhaps the wrasses.

It’s hard to appreciate this because you just don’t see that many of them. Many are small and remain hidden on the reef.

They are found all over the world but tropical to subtropical seas are their favoured haunts. They tend to hang out in comparatively shallow waters, searching out hidey holes where they can get away from bright light. During the day, you’ll see their heads protruding from the entrance to its shelter, disguising the fact their is a beastie several feet long in there. The giant moray reaches over seven foot.

Most morays are nocturnal, emerging after dark to search for prey. Morays lack scales, caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins, instead they move by flexing their long, continuous dorsal and anal fins. They have soft and slimy skin that is can be grazed by rough handling.

Just like a cat, morays are extremely curious. All that scary-looking, open-mouthed attitude is actually due to small, restricted gill openings without covers. Simply put, they're breathing! And that’s why they poke their heads up into the water column. The other reason for this is their keen sense of smell. Moray eye sight isn’t particularly good, so they rely on smell to sense what is going past.

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