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The Mediterranean moray has an elongated, eel-like body and can reach a length of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) and weigh over 15 kilograms. Its coloration varies from dark grey to dark brown with fine dark spots. The skin is slimy and without scales. The dorsal fin begins behind its head and continues to the caudal fin (fused with the anal fin).
Most species are found in tropical or subtropical environments, with only a few species (yellow moray) found in temperate ocean environments. Although the moray eel can occupy both tropical oceans and temperate oceans, as well as both freshwater and saltwater, the majority of moray eels occupy warm saltwater environments, which contain reefs. [26]
Many eel-like fish of the order Anguilliformes have toxic proteins in their blood which has to be destroyed with heat before eating. Moray eels also produce toxic mucus, and can store toxins in their flesh and organs. [3] The giant moray is a reef fish at the top of the food chain.
Moray eels such as the Giant moray are only occasionally aggressive; most bites result from divers putting a hand into the hole in which the eel lives. Surgeonfishes have sheathed or fixed blades at the base of the tail which can inflict deep wounds (the yellow stripe on the Sohal tang pictured).
Eels are nocturnal and most of their feeding therefore occurs at night. [28] Having a keen sense of smell, eels most likely depend on scent to find food. The American eel is a generalist species which colonizes a wide range of habitats. Their diet is therefore extremely diverse and includes most of the aquatic animals sharing the same environment.
The 25 Most Dangerous Animals In The World, List 25; The Most Dangerous Animals in the World, Animal Danger; Top 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World, Conservation Institute; Schistosomiasis: Still a Cause of Significant Morbidity and Mortality, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Most eels live in the shallow waters of the ocean and burrow into sand, mud, or amongst rocks. A majority of eel species are nocturnal and thus are rarely seen. Sometimes, they are seen living together in holes, or "eel pits". Some species of eels live in deeper water on the continental shelves and over the slopes deep as 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).
The moray eel will likely consume very small fish such as damselfish. Compatible tankmates for the snowflake moray eel include other relatively large, aggressive fish, such as lionfish, tangs, triggerfish, wrasses, and possibly even other snowflake moray eels if they are both introduced to the tank at the same time. [12]