California moray eel
The California moray eel is a distinctive species found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, characterized by its long, scaleless body that can reach lengths of up to five feet. Its coloration typically ranges from brown to green, which helps it blend into its rocky reef habitat, where it resides in caves and crevices at depths of up to 130 feet. Known for its fierce predatory nature, the California moray hunts primarily at night, preying on crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and fish. It possesses powerful jaws and sharp teeth, along with a unique second set of jaws in its throat to help secure and consume its prey. The species is also notable for its lack of pectoral fins and features a feather-like dorsal fin that runs the length of its back. Breeding involves the female laying free-floating eggs, which are fertilized by the male, and the young hatch into a larval stage that resembles willow leaves. Although this eel can be dangerous if provoked, its blood contains a toxin that can cause harm if it comes into contact with human mucous membranes, although this toxin is neutralized through cooking. With a lifespan of up to 30 years, the California moray eel plays a significant role in its ecosystem but should be approached with caution, especially by divers.
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California moray eel
The California moray is a long, brown and green eel native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. It has a reputation for being a fierce predator and dangerous to divers if provoked. It is the only member of its family to live north of Baja California and the only eel in California without scales or pectoral fins.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gynothorax
Species: Mordax
With its thick, five-foot (1 1/2-meter) body, the California moray eel is an impressive sight. Its feather-like dorsal, or back, fin runs the length of its back, becomes the caudal, or tail, fin as it continues around the tail, and joins the anal, or rear, fin on the underside of the eel. The brown-green body ripples smoothly and powerfully with muscles beneath the thick, scaleless skin.
A typical home for the eel is a rocky reef with caves and crevices at depths up to 130 feet (40 meters). They also live in shallower tide pools around 65 feet (20 meters) deep. Red rock shrimp often accompany the California moray as cleaner shrimp. Generally, the eel lies near the bottom of its cave and waits for a meal to swim by the entrance. It is not the best swimmer but can dart out with the quickness of a snake and catch its prey.
Like other morays, this species is famous for its large mouth, powerful jaws, and razor-sharp teeth. Its chin has taste sensors, which help it find and capture food. Inside its throat, a second set of jaws helps secure and consume prey. The California moray eats crabs, lobsters, shrimp, octopuses, and fish. It mostly hunts at night and has been known to bite divers who disturb or harass it during the day.
A female lays free-floating eggs in the water, which the male fertilizes. The young hatch into a larval stage called leptocephali (the singular is leptocephalus). The leptocephali look more like willow leaves than adult eels, but after drifting for 12 months, they metamorphose, or change, into the adult form.
The life span of the California moray eels is up to 30 years.
Some moray eels, congers, and freshwater eels may be fished commercially and sold for humans to eat. Eating some species of morays may cause illness. The blood of some eels, possibly morays, contains a poison that is dangerous if it touches a human's eyes or mucous membranes. This poison is destroyed when eels are cooked.
Bibliography
"California Moray." Aquarium of the Pacific, www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/california‗moray. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.
"California Moray." Monterey Bay Aquarium, www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/california-moray. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.