Morays

Animals that, when disturbed, may cause accidents involving people. When threatened, they are capable of biting to defend themselves.

The morays are fishes that have cilyndrical body, and as well as the eels, belong to the order Anguilliforme. Their skin presents a variety of colors to camouflage with the environment in which they live, and can also secrete a protective mucus that in some species may even contain poison. They are carnivorous and have a keen sense of smell to hunt for animals such as octopuses, squid, crustaceans and small fish hidden in cracks of rocks and corals. These animals have large teeth that they use to grab and cut their preys that are usually slippery.

Tank species

Laced moray

Gymnothorax favagineus

This is a species of moray found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, living in coral reefs and estuarine areas, reaching a maximum depth of 50 m. It usually hides in burrows on rocks with cleaner wrasses or shrimp. It feeds on octopuses and small fishes, and can reach 250 cm in length. The laced moray are not very commercialized: some people consume their meat or keep it in aquariums. It is a territorial animal and can be aggressive when it feels threatened.