Moray eel 443259 224688375 2008-07-09T23:48:36Z Plasticup 2666389 clean up using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Taxobox | name = Moray eel | image = Moray_eel.jpg | image_width = 265px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Actinopterygii]] | superordo = [[Elopomorpha]] | ordo = [[Anguilliformes]] | familia = '''Muraenidae''' | subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]] | subdivision = See text. }} '''Moray eels''' are large [[cosmopolitan (species)|cosmopolitan]] [[eel]]s of the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Muraenidae'''. There are approximately 200 species in 15 genera. The typical length of a moray is 1.5 [[metre|m]] (5 [[foot (measurement)|ft]]), with the largest being the [[slender giant moray]], ''Strophidon sathete'', at up to 4 m (13 ft). ==Anatomy== [[Image:Muraena helena.2 - Aquarium Finisterrae.JPG|thumb|left|200px|''[[Muraena helena]]'' showing typical moray eel morphology: robust anguilliform shape, lack of [[pectoral fin]]s and circular [[gill]] openings.]] The [[dorsal fin]] of the moray extends from just behind the head, along the back and joins seamlessly with the [[caudal fin|caudal]] and [[anal fin]]s. Most species lack [[pectoral fin|pectoral]] and [[pelvic fin]]s, adding to their snake-like appearance. Their eyes are rather small; morays rely on their highly developed sense of smell, lying in wait to ambush prey. The body of the moray is patterned, [[camouflage]] also being present inside the mouth. Their jaws are wide, with a snout that protrudes forward. They possess large teeth, designed to tear flesh as opposed to holding or chewing. [[Image:Pharyngeal jaws of moray eels.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Moray eel jaw anatomy]] Moray eels' heads are too narrow to create the [[negative pressure]] that most fish use to swallow prey. Moray eels have a second set of jaws in their throat called [[pharyngeal jaws]], which also possess teeth. When feeding, morays launch these jaws into the oral cavity, where they grasp struggling prey and transport it into the throat and down to the rest of the digestive system. Moray eels are the only known type of animal that uses pharyngeal jaws to actively capture and restrain prey.<ref name="Mehta2007">{{cite journal | last =Mehtal | first =Rita S. | authorlink =Rita Mehtal | coauthors =Peter C. Wainwright | title =Raptorial jaws in the throat help moray eels swallow large prey | journal =[[Nature|Nature(journal)]] | volume =449 | pages =79–82 | date =[[2007-09-06]] | url =http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v449/n7158/abs/nature06062.html | doi =10.1038/nature06062 | accessdate =2007-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Nature20070905">{{cite web | last =Hopkin | first =Michael | authorlink =Michael Hopkin | title =Eels imitate alien: Fearsome fish have protruding jaws in their throats to grab prey. | work =News | publisher =Nature.com | date =[[2007-09-05]] | url =http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070903/full/070903-11.html | doi =10.1038/news070903-11 | accessdate =2007-09-06 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=109985&org=NSF [[National Science Foundation]] (Sep. 5, 2007)]</ref> Morays are capable of inflicting serious wounds to humans. Morays secrete a protective mucus over their smooth scaleless skin which contains a toxin in some species. Morays have much thicker skin and high densities of goblet cells in the [[Epidermis (botany)|epidermis]] that allows mucus to be produced at a higher rate than in other eel species. This allows sand granules to adhere to the sides of their burrows in sand-dwelling morays<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=8876820&ordinalpos=20&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum Skin morphology and cytology in marine eels adapte...[Anat Rec. 1996&#93; - PubMed Result<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, thus making the walls of the burrow more permanent due to the [[glycosylation]] of [[mucins]] in [[mucus]]. Their small circular [[gill]]s, located on the flanks far posterior to the mouth, require the moray to maintain a gape in order to facilitate respiration. Morays are [[carnivorous]] and feed primarily on other [[fish]], [[cephalopod]]s, [[mollusk]]s, and [[crustacea]]ns. [[Grouper]]s, other morays, and [[barracuda]]s are among their few [[predator]]s. There is a commercial fishery for several species, but some have been known to cause [[ciguatera fish poisoning]]. Morays hide in crevices in the [[reef]]s, and wait until their prey is close enough for capture. They then lunge out and clamp the prey in their strong [[jaw]]s. ==Behavior== ===Cooperative hunting=== [[Image:Ribbon eel.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ribbon moray]],<br>''[[Rhinomuraena quaesita]]'']] In the December 2006 issue of the journal, ''Public Library of Science Biology'', a team of [[biologist]]s announced the discovery of interspecies cooperative hunting involving morays. The biologists, who were engaged in a study of [[Red Sea]] [[cleaner fish]] (fish that enter the mouths of other fish to rid them of parasites), discovered that a species of reef-associated [[grouper]], the roving coral grouper (''[[Plectropomus pessuliferus]]''), often recruited morays to aid them while hunting for food. This is the first discovery of cooperation between fish in general. <ref>[http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/061207_fish_cooperation.html An Amazing First: Two Species Cooperate to Hunt | LiveScience<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0040431 PLoS Biology - Interspecific Communicative and Coordinated Hunting between Groupers and Giant Moray Eels in the Red Sea<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Image:Gymnothorax fimbriatus.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[Fimbriated moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax fimbriatus]]'']] ===Reputation=== Morays have sometimes been described as vicious or ill-tempered. In fact, morays are shy and secretive, and they only attack humans in [[self-defense]]. They also accidentally bite human fingers when being fed, because they cannot see or hear very well, although they have an acute sense of smell. Morays hide from humans and would rather flee than fight. Morays, however, ''do'' inflict a nasty bite, because, although not [[poison]]ous, their backward-pointing teeth are covered with [[bacteria]] which may infect the wound. Another danger that morays present is when they are eaten. If the eels have eaten [[algae]], or fish that have eaten algae, they will cause [[ciguatera fish poisoning]] if eaten. Morays rest in crevices during the day and are [[nocturnal]] predators, and although they may ensnare small fish and crustaceans that pass near them during the day, they mostly come out at night. <ref>[http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0040431 PLoS Biology - Interspecific Communicative and Coordinated Hunting between Groupers and Giant Moray Eels in the Red Sea.<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Distribution== Moray eels are [[Cosmopolitan distribution|cosmopolitan]], found in tropical and temperate seas. ==Ecology== ===Habitat=== Morays frequent [[tropical]], warm waters, and subtropical [[coral reef]]s to depths of 150 m, where they spend most of their time concealed inside crevices and alcoves. ==Classification== ===Genera=== [[Image:Moray eel kona.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Goldentail moray, ''[[Gymnothorax miliaris]]'']] * ''[[Anarchias]]'' * ''[[Channomuraena]]'' * ''[[Cirrimaxilla]]'' * ''[[Echidna (genus)|Echidna]]'' * ''[[Enchelycore]]'' * ''[[Enchelynassa]]'' * ''[[Gymnomuraena]]'' * ''[[Gymnothorax]]'' * ''[[Monopenchelys]]'' * ''[[Muraena]]'' * ''[[Pseudechidna]]'' * ''[[Rhinomuraena]]'' * ''[[Scuticaria]]'' ==References== {{reflist}} {{commonscat|Muraenidae}} ==External links== * [http://www.marbef.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=198 Moray Eels Grab Prey With ''Alien'' Jaws] [[Category:Muraenidae]] [[ar:الحنكليس]] [[de:Muränen]] [[es:Muraenidae]] [[eo:Mureno]] [[fr:Muraenidae]] [[lt:Mureninės]] [[nl:Murenen]] [[ja:ウツボ]] [[pl:Murenowate]] [[pt:Moreia]] [[simple:Moray eel]] [[fi:Mureenat]] [[sv:Muräna]]