# Moray Eel (*Muraenidae*) Moray eels are long, snake-like fish that live in the ocean. They have sharp teeth and can open their mouths very wide to catch their prey. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Marine - **Also known as:** Moray, Moray Eel Fish ![Moray Eel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426695/objects/6246.jpg) ## Appearance The Moray Eel has a long, muscular, snake-like body, often covered in striking patterns of spots, stripes, or mottled camouflage. They possess large mouths filled with sharp, backward-pointing teeth and lack pectoral and pelvic fins, making them appear distinctively streamlined. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Anguilliformes - **Family:** Muraenidae ## Interesting facts - Moray eels breathe by constantly opening and closing their mouths! - Morays often share their reef homes with friendly cleaner shrimp and fish! - Some tiny morays are only as long as a pencil, others longer than a human! - They are toothy predators, but many species are shy, hiding in crevices! ## Special abilities - **Pharyngeal Jaws:** Moray Eel can grab and pull prey deep into its throat using a second set of jaws that extends forward, like an alien. - **Exceptional Olfaction:** Moray Eel can expertly hunt in murky water using its excellent sense of smell to locate prey, compensating for poor eyesight. - **Knot-tying Tactic:** Moray Eel can tie its flexible body into a knot to shed parasites or gain leverage when pulling tough prey apart. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-240 cm - **Weight:** 1-30 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-30 years - **Swim Speed:** 15 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 150 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding Moray eels are ocean hunters that mostly eat fish, octopus, and crabs. - **Primary Foods:** fish, octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Grey reef shark (*Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos*) — hunts larger morays - **Hunts:** Common octopus (*Octopus vulgaris*) — a favorite prey item, hunted at night - **Symbiotic with:** Skunk cleaner shrimp (*Lysmata amboinensis*) — gets cleaned of parasites in its mouth - **Hunts:** Blue-green chromis (*Chromis viridis*) — ambushes small reef fish for food ## Traits - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Electrogenic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/electrogenic): This trait describes organisms capable of generating electric fields or electric shocks. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Avoid touching or provoking moray eels in the wild as they can bite if threatened. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Moray Eel? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Moray Eel? 60-240 cm ### How much does Moray Eel weigh? 1-30 kg ### How long does Moray Eel live? 10-30 years ### What does Moray Eel eat? Moray eels are ocean hunters that mostly eat fish, octopus, and crabs. ### How fast can Moray Eel swim? 15 km/h ### Where is Moray Eel usually found? Marine ### How does Moray Eel hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Greater Cleveland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greater-cleveland-aquarium-ohio) — Ohio, US · Aquarium - [Downtown Aquarium, Houston](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-aquarium-houston) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [Florida Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/florida-aquarium) — Florida, US · Aquarium - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego-california) — California, US · Zoo - [Birch Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birch-aquarium-california) — California, US · Aquarium - [Heal the Bay Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/heal-the-bay-aquarium) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Moray Eel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/moray-eel) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Moray Eel: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moray-eel)