*Fascinating Fish Fact*

Moray eels are of the family Muraenidae. The approximately 200 species in 15 genera are almost exclusively marine species found in warm and temperate waters around the world, but several species are regularly seen in brackish water, and a few can sometimes be found in fresh water.

With a maximum length of 11.5cm, the smallest moray is likely the Snyder's moray (Anarchias leucurus), while the longest species, the slender giant moray (Strophidon sathete) reaches up to 4m. The largest in terms of total mass is the giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus), which reaches 3m in length and 30 kg in weight!

There are several species of moray which we can see on a regular basis here in the Andaman Sea, including the honeycomb moray (Muraena melanotis), giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus), zebra morays (Gymnomuraena zebra), snowflake morays (Echidna nebulosa), white eyed moray (Siderea thyrsoidea), Fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) and the Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita).

Moray eels are commonly known by their snake-like appearance and vicious behavior when disturbed, but there is a lot more to these slithering swimmers than most people may know:

* Though the moray eel looks similar to a snake, they are a type of fish.

* Moray eels are generally not aggressive creatures unless disturbed. If a moray eel feels threatened they may become vicious.

*Moray eels have many sharp teeth within a large jaw. Some species of this eel will have long canine teeth throughout that could easily tear through flesh, while others have smaller nodular teeth.

* Moray eels have a 2nd jaw - like in the movie 'Alien'. Their second jaw is located in their throat, because their heads are too narrow to create the negative pressure most fish use to swallow their prey.

* Their colors generally range from brown-yellow to black with lighter undersides. Different species of this eel will have a wide range of unique and beautiful patterns.

* Moray eels usually live within holes of an ocean reef.

* The moray eel feeds by waiting for prey to swim by their hole. They usually feed upon fish, but will occasionally dine on crustaceans or octopus.

* When feeding, the moray eel may tie their body into a knot in order to anchor in place while devouring their food.

* When you look at a moray eel, they will hold their mouth open for the majority of time. This may appear vicious and intimidating, however the reason this eel does this is to allow water through their gills in order to breath.

* When the moray eel mates, the male and female will wrap themselves together for hours at a time until the male has fertilized the eggs that the female has produced. Some species of eel travel up to 4,000 miles to breed, a journey which can take up to seven months. During that time it is believed that eels do not eat. Instead, they use their body fat and muscle tissue for nutrients. Adults die after breeding and their larvae begin their own journey by floating on ocean currents.

* When in the wild, never attempt to feed a moray eel as this is the most common reason for an attack. The eel will lash out to retrieve the food - one diver in the Similan Islands made this mistake a few years back, check it out on youtube if you don't believe me!!