Virtual Travel-Meet a Green Moray

The green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris) is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the western Atlantic from New Jersey, Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, at depths down to 40 m. Its length is up to 2.5 m.

Green moray eels are members of the moray eel family, which includes about 160 other eel species. Green moray eels are actually some of the largest types of moray. The largest green moray eel ever measured was over eight feet long and weighed 65 pounds. If that eel could stand on his tail, he would be taller than the tallest American basketball player!

Color

Green moray eels do look bright green, but they do not actually have bright green skin. Their skin is actually a dark and drab brown color.

These eels appear green because their skin releases a layer of yellow mucus. Mucus is a slimy substance that protects skin. You have mucus inside your mouth. Touching the mucus inside your cheek might help you imagine what a green moray eel feels like.

Body

Green moray eels have a dorsal fin that begins just behind their gills and extends all the way down their backs. These eels do not have any other fins on their long, muscular bodies. Although the biggest green moray eels may grow up to eight feet, most are closer to six feet long.

Head and Mouth

Sometimes when diving you see a green moray eel with his mouth wide open. For some animals, this type of behavior is a warning, telling predators to stay away. For moray eels, a wide-open mouth serves a totally different purpose.

Green moray eels, like many ocean creatures, have gills that take oxygen from the water. Moray eels open and close their mouths to pump water over their gills to ensure that they have the oxygen they need to survive.

Green moray eels also have very interesting jaws. In fact, moray eels have two sets of jaws in their mouths. They need both sets to capture and eat their prey. First, green moray eels firmly grasp onto their dinner with their first set of jaws. Then, a smaller set of jaws shoots forward from the back of the mouth and bites into the prey, pulling it down their throat.

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Take a virtual tour through some of my photos: https://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Travel-Photography

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Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves to attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.

If you have anything you think I should post during our Stay At Home Time drop me an email: photosbynanci@comcast.com