A chain link moray eel arrived at Loggerhead Marinelife Center yesterday. It is currently 14 inches long and lives with several other fish in the center’s coral reef aquarium. Chain link moray eels have long slender bodies. They have white coloring with a slightly yellow tint. They get their name for round, black or gray chain markings across their entire bodies.
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Moray eels have poor vision and hearing senses, so they rely heavily on smell to locate prey. Moray eels are often found amongst coral reefs and lurking in crevices at the sea floor. Their usual hunting method involves hiding in a crevice and with quick reflexes pouncing on passing fish. It’s quite rare to see moray eels swimming in open water during the day as they are nocturnal. During the day they prefer hiding in small spaces, rocks and caves.
The moray eel lives in tropical areas of the sea. Its favorite things to eat are dead fish, octopus and other crustaceans. The skin of morays is thick and lacks scales. Most species have low dorsal (top) fins and lack pectoral and pelvic fins, causing them to sometimes lack lateral stability. It’s not uncommon to see moray eels lying or drifting on their sides or even upside down.
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center chain link moray eel doesn’t have a name yet. Fans of the center’s Facebook page are submitting their votes for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the LMC gift shop. You can become a fan here for your chance to win, now through February 17, 2011! You can stop by to see the eel any day of the week.