White Mouth Moray Eel – Facts-Photographs and Video

The White mouth moray eel (Gymnothorax Meleagris) also known as the comet moray eel or guinea fowl moray eel is probably one of the most attractive looking moray eels apart from the Dragon Moray (Enchelycore pardalis)

APPEARANCE

The white mouth moray eel is brown to yellow-brown with numerous white spots on the head and body. The inside of the mouth and the tip of the tail are white. There are enlarged canine teeth at the front of the upper jaw. The mouth is proportionately wide with teeth designed for tearing flesh rather than grinding or holding in place.

They do not have pectoral or pelvic fins and the dorsal fin runs the length of the body. Morays secrete mucus over their scaleless skin, which in some species contains toxins. They have a thick skin and a large number of cells that secrete mucus. The white-mouth moray eels grow up to a meter in length.The enlarged head can clearly be seen in the image below.

white-mouth moray eel (Gymnothorax Meleagris) also known as the comet moray eel or guinea fowl moray eel

On the roof of the mouth white-mouth moray eels have additional rows of teeth, which are larger than those around the rim of the jaw. The number of teeth seem to vary from eel to eel but the younger ones have up to three extra rows of teeth. This can clearly be seen in the image below and as one can see gives them a pretty fearsome bite.

White mouth Moray Eel, Gymnothorax Meleagris

Toxins

Some researchers speculate that moray eels contain toxins in their mouths and are poisonous.From many years of catching crayfish on the Kwa Zulu Natal coast I have never had a bite go sceptic. After every bite I have soaked the bite area in hot water as hot as I can take it. Much of the bite damage occurs when one pulls ones hand back after being bitten. Many experts say that one should not pull back, however they should go try it themselves. The bite is usually sudden and unexpected and it is natural to pull away from it. I have personally seen one diver who lost the use of his thumb from a giant moray bite but that is unusual.

Morays secrete mucus over their scaleless skin, which in some species contains toxins. They have a thick skin and a large number of cells that secrete mucus epidermis. Moray eels have proportionately small circular gills, located on posterior of the mouth and the moray is constantly opening and closing its mouth to facilitate sufficient water flow over its gills. In general the opening and closing of the mouth is not threatening behavior but one should not approach too closely. They will bite if threatened.

IN THE WILD

The white mouth moray eel are generally seen protruding from a hole or small cave and are seldom if ever seen in the open. They are not aggressive but should be treated with caution because of their sharp teeth.

Moray eels have proportionately small circular gills, located on posterior of the mouth and as a result the moray is constantly opening and closing its mouth to facilitate sufficient water flow over its gills. In general the opening and closing of the mouth is not threatening behavior but one should not approach too closely.

HABITAT

The white mouth moray eel is found across the Indian ocean and in the west Pacific.

DIET

The whitemouth moray eel is carnivorous, and does most of its hunting at night. They feed mainly on small fish and crustaceans but the fact that they are on occasion caught by fishermen using bait indicates that they will scavenge as well.

white mouth moray eel has a second set of toothed jaws in their throat called pharyngeal jaws. When feeding, morays latch onto the prey with their outer jaws. They then push their pharyngeal jaws, which are set back in the pharynx, forward into the mouth. These jaws then grasp the prey and pull it back into the stomach. Moray eels are the only fish that use pharyngeal jaws to capture prey. Their main hunting tool is their excellent sense of smell which makes up for their poor eyesight. This means that weakened or dead creatures are the moray eel’s favored food.

REPRODUCTION

Studies have shown hermaphroditism in morays, some being sequential and others synchronous which can reproduce with either sex. Courtship usually occurs when water temperatures are high. After posturing to each other they wrap their bodies around each other and simultaneously release sperm and eggs. Once they hatch the larvae float in the ocean for around 8 months before becoming elvers and eventually a moray eel.

COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

Ciguatoxin, the main toxin of ciguatera, is produced by a toxic dinoflagellate and accumulated up through the food chain, of which moray eels are top, making them potentially dangerous for humans to eat. They are fished and do take bait.

Once caught they are extremely troublesome to deal with. They wrap around the line and secrete a large amount of mucus and as a result the line has to be changed. As with the mucus from puffer fish, no other fish will bite on the line once it has the mucus on it. It is not uncommon for a caught moray eel to actually bite its self while it is busy wrapping around the line.

AQUARIUMS

Because of their attractive looks they are kept in aquariums. Due to their size of up to one meter in length they should only be kept in a very large aquarium. They are easy to feed and are hardy. They cannot be kept in a reef tank as they will eat crustaceans and fish and are likely to push rocks over that are not well anchored. .