Dangerous Marine Animals
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.
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.
Green moray - Gymnothorax funebris
This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean, mainly hidden in rocky shores, coral reefs and mangroves. It usually inhabits shallow depths of up to 30 m, but can occur up to 50 m. With mainly nocturnal habits, it feeds on fish and crustaceans, and can reach 300 cm in length. Green moray are poorly commercialized: some people consume their meat or keep it in aquariums. Due to its size and territorial habit, it can be aggressive.
Spotted Moray - Gymnothorax moringa
This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean, mainly in coral reefs, being able to live from the surface to great depths. With diurnal habits, it feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans, and can reach 200 cm length.
Ornate wobbegong - Orectolobus ornatus
They are common in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, southern Australia and Western Australia. They can reach 290 cm and are nocturnal animals, resting on the bottom of the sea during the day, found on rocky shores covered by algae and coral reefs. They feed on small bottom fish and invertebrates and are ovoviviparous, that is, they lay eggs.