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Moray Eel
Morays have an excellent sense of smell, and have the nares
(nostrils) developed into tubes. Most fishes have two nostrils on each side
of the head. Water passes in the anterior nostril and out through the
posterior nostril. Under the skin, between the 2 nostrils, lies the nasal
apparatus, which gives the fish its sense of smell. |
There are 80 plus
species of moray eel - in Hawaiian "Puhi" - of the family
Muraenidae. They differ from other eels in having small rounded gill
openings and in generally lacking pectoral fins. Their skin is thick, smooth,
and scale less, Their mouth is wide, their jaws are equipped with strong, razor
sharp teeth, which enable them to seize and hold onto their food (fishes,
crustaceans and other small marine animals) and also to inflict serious wounds
on their enemies, including humans.
They will attack
humans - but only when disturbed or provoked and they can be quite vicious.
(Although, they actually can be quite friendly once they are used to you - and
you are used to them. Careful when you feed them as their teeth are indeed razor
sharp and they might lurch at offered food, and offering fingers, very rapidly.)
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Green morays swim by flexing their whole bodies into lateral waves. Known as
anguilliform swimming, they use this efficient stroke to swim backward as
well as forward, a handy skill to have when scurrying into a crevice to
avoid a predator.
Like all of his family, the green moray is carnivorous. With the help of a
large mouth that extends back beyond the eye and an impressive array of
needle-sharp teeth |
A carnivore, this eel's diet consists mainly of
crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs, as well as sea urchins, but it may eat
smaller fish if the opportunity arises. Unlike other moray species that have
sharp pointed teeth for grasping onto prey, even though the Snowflake Eel has
blunt or flattened teeth designed for grinding up shelled invertebrate prey,
primarily crabs, shrimps and mollusks, it nonetheless has a nasty strong bite.
Therefore, using a feeding stick is a good idea.
During the day, many morays are found in crevices and holes in
both rock and coral reefs. This habit affords the moray protection from
predators and allows it to strike at prey from a hidden position. Despite their
reclusive habits, in some places Morays make up a huge proportion of the
carnivorous fishes. On some reefs in Hawaii morays make up 46 percent of the
total weight of carnivorous fishes
Human beings are the moray eels? greatest predator.? In some
countries eels are caught for food.? Many eels produce a poison that greatly
discourages it from being considered a food source.? The moray doesn't have this
advantage of producing poison directly but it is believed to be somewhat toxic
if eaten and could cause serious sickness or even death to its unlucky consumer
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