Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Moray eel jaw anatomy. In addition to the presence of pharyngeal jaws, morays' mouth openings extend far back into the head, compared to fish which feed using suction. In the action of lunging at prey and biting down, water flows out the posterior side of the mouth opening, reducing waves in front of the eel which would otherwise displace prey.
The common name "green moray" is also sometimes used to refer to the yellow moray, G. prasinus. Its green colour comes from a protective layer of mucus secreted by its specialized goblet cells much like other species of moray. Underneath this mucus layer, the green moray eel is a darker color as can be seen in preserved specimens. [3]
Most fish species with pharyngeal teeth do not have extendable pharyngeal jaws. A particularly notable exception is the highly mobile pharyngeal jaw of the moray eels.These are possibly a response to their inability to swallow as other fishes do by creating a negative pressure in the mouth, perhaps induced by their restricted environmental niche (burrows) or in the air in the intertidal zone. [10]
The snake-like creature appears to be a type of large eel, with startled-looking eyes, a cavernous mouth and teeth like twisted nails. ... including conger eel, long tail moray and green moray ...
Gymnothorax chilospilus Bleeker, 1864 (Lip-spot moray) Gymnothorax chlamydatus Snyder, 1908 (Banded mud moray) Gymnothorax conspersus Poey, 1867 (Saddled moray) Gymnothorax cribroris Whitley, 1932 (Sieve-patterned moray) Gymnothorax davidsmithi McCosker & J. E. Randall, 2008 (Flores mud moray) Gymnothorax dorsalis Seale, 1917
This moray eel was recently identified as a natural predator of the lionfish (Pterois miles) in its native habitat in the Red Sea. [9] A mature giant moray has few natural predators, although it may compete for food with reef-dwelling sharks. [10] Cleaner wrasses are commonly found in its presence, cleaning the interior of its mouth.
The panamic green moray eel (Gymnothorax castaneus) is a large moray eel in the Pacific. [2] Common names also include chestnut moray eel. The panamic green moray is found in the Pacific from the Gulf of California to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands. [3] It grows to about 1.5 m in length, [3] and is brown to brownish green.
The jaws of the Kidako moray, or moray eels in general, hold a dual-jaw system for feeding. [10] They primarily use the oral jaws to deliver prey into the esophagus with sharp and piercing teeth. The teeth are curved backward and point towards its throat to avoid prey coming back out of its mouth. [ 13 ]