Sealife guideThe Mediterranean moray eelMuraena helena
Last updated on 08/21/2024 at 10:42 PM
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.
Geographic 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
Banded moray
(Gymnothorax rueppelliae)
Fimbriated moray
(Gymnothorax fimbriatus)
Green moray eel
(Gymnothorax funebris)
Kidako moray eel
(Gymnothorax kidako)
Ribbon eel
(Rhinomuraena quaesita)
Snowflake moray
(Echidna nebulosa)
Yellowmouth moray
(Gymnothorax nudivomer)
Zebra moray
(Gymnomuraena zebra)
Discover also
Blackfin barracuda
(Sphyraena qenie)
Blacktip sandgoby
(Fusigobius melacron)
Damselfish
(Chromis chromis)
Exquisite butterflyfish
(Chaetodon austriacus)
Ocean tang
(Acanthurus bahianus)
Rudderfish
(Naucrates ductor)
Teardrop butterflyfish
(Chaetodon unimaculatus)
Yellowhead wrasse
(Halichoeres garnoti)
The marine species in the Mediterranean Sea
Black sea urchin
(Arbacia lixula)
Blue spiny starfish
(Coscinasterias tenuispina)
Bluestriped light bulb tunicate
(Clavelina dellavallei)
Giant doris
(Felimare picta)
Neptune grass
(Posidonia oceanica)
Ocellate torpedo
(Torpedo torpedo)
Ornate wrasse
(Thalassoma pavo)
Stony sea urchin
(Paracentrotus lividus)
Best scuba diving destinations
Port-Cros island
Port-Cros National Park
