Sealife guideThe Mediterranean moray eelMuraena helena
The Mediterranean moray eel (Muraena helena)
There are more than 200 species of moray eels distributed across 15 genera.
Taxonomy
- Common name: Mediterranean moray eel, moray eel
- French name: Murène commune, murène méditerranéenne
- Spanish name: Morena
- Scientific name: Muraena helena (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Family name: Muraenidae
- Order name: Anguilliformes
- Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The Mediterranean moray eel can reach up to 5 feet in length. The moray eel has an elongated, snake-like body that is flattened vertically.
The Mediterranean moray eel has sharp teeth and an excellent sense of smell
Its skin is smooth and scale-less. Its dorsal, caudal and anal fins form a single undulating crest.
The moray eel lacks both pectoral and pelvic fins.
The moray eel has sharp teeth and an excellent sense of smell.
The Mediterranean moray eel has a dark brown body with yellow spots.
Range
The Mediterranean moray eel is found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the British Isles.
Habitat
The Mediterranean moray eel lives in rocky crevices. It is mostly sedentary but has several shelters among the rocks where it can be found.
The moray eel can be found from the surface to depths of around 330 feet.
Diet
The Mediterranean moray eel feeds on fish, crustaceans and octopuses which it hunts at night.
The Mediterranean moray eel has an elongated, snake-like body that is flattened vertically
Reproduction
Due to their nocturnal nature, the reproduction of the Mediterranean moray eel is still not well understood. The female lays eggs - about 0.2 inches in size - between July and September which hatch into small, flattened and transparent larvae.
Did you know ?
The Mediterranean moray eel regularly opens and closes its mouth to oxygenate its gills.
The mediterranean moray eel is listed as many other marine species within The
IUCN Red List of threatened species. The mediterranean moray eel appears in the
IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !
Tips for observing
Approach the Mediterranean moray eel gently without disturbing it and avoid placing your hand near its head. This will help you avoid a bite which could quickly become infected without careful disinfection.
The Mediterranean moray eel regularly opens and closes its mouth to oxygenate its gills
Within the same family
Yellowmouth moray
(Gymnothorax nudivomer)
Barred-fin moray eel
(Gymnothorax zonipectis)
White eyed moray
(Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)
Banded mud moray
(Gymnothorax chlamydatus)
Snowflake moray
(Echidna nebulosa)
Undulated moray
(Gymnothorax undulatus)
Goldentail moray
(Gymnothorax miliaris)
Fangtooth moray
(Enchelycore anatina)
Explore also
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(Balistes vetula)
Lemon damselfish
(Pomacentrus moluccensis)
Parva goby
(Valenciennea parva)
Blotched picarel
(Spicara maena)
Red-spotted sandperch
(Parapercis schauinslandii)
Singular bannerfish
(Heniochus singularius)
Midnight parrotfish
(Scarus coelestinus)
Midnight snapper
(Macolor macularis)
The marine species from Mediterranean sea
Black scorpionfish
(Scorpaena porcus)
Blue spiny starfish
(Coscinasterias tenuispina)
John dory
(Zeus faber)
Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
(Coris julis)
Pink sea slug
(Flabellina affinis)
Purple gorgonian
(Paramuricea clavata)
Red sea-squirt
(Halocynthia papillosa)
Smooth starfish
(Hacelia attenuata)
Les destinations de plongée
Port Cros island
