GREEN MORAY EEL
GREEN MORAY EEL
| Name: Green Moray Eel |
| Scientific name: Gymnothorax prasinus |
| Range: Atlantic waters from New Jersey to Brazil |
| Habitat: Temperate coastal waters from Southeastern Queensland to Shark Bay, Western Australia, including northern Tasmania. |
| Status: Not threatened |
| Diet in the wild: Carnivorous: octopus and fish |
| Diet in the zoo: fish |
| Location in the zoo:
James
R. Record Aquarium (exhibit closed)
|
| Physical description: Average Adult Length 5-6 ft max length 10 ft. Color: blue/grey, but a yellow mucous coating makes it look green. The head is slender with an elongated mouth. Their teeth are very sharp and they have a lot of them |
| General information:
There are 80+ species of eels. Green Moray Eels are carnivorous animals, and eat small crustaceans, worms, and insects in the ocean. During the day, they are found in cracks and holes in coral reefs, and in or around shallow waters. Mature eels have the ability to survive out of water for over four hours and even travel over land. Some morays are good to eat, some are very toxic. Morays are very dangerous to humans, but they will not attack unless provoked. |
| Special anatomical,
physiological or behavioral adaptations:
Green Moray Eels have poor sight.
They have no pectoral or pelvic fins. The eel has a very good sense
of smell. Moray eels must open and close their mouths constantly
in order to circulate water over their gills. Their mouths
also
contain very sharp fangs in several rows. These eels also have also
adapted to tie their bodies into knots to tear at their food.
|
| Comments about
GREEN MORAY EELS of the Fort Worth Zoo.
The eel keepers really focused on the beauty of the Green Moray Eel. They are all well fed and seem to be content. I believe that they are fed every day, but it might be every other day. They told me that they are very easy to keep up with, and that there is no real maintanance. They are kept on a diet of fish. |
| Personal Observations:
While at the zoo, I noticed that the eel did not move too much. The only time that it came out was to eat and it liked to move to different spots in the reef. Also the eel can manipulate its body to fit into places that you could not think possible. While I was there I could only see one eel -- the others were hiding in the back in the reef. |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION OR PICTURES OF GREEN MORAY EELS - VISIT -------> | http://www.clype.demon.co.uk/gallery/eel.htm
http://www.aquaticimages.com/CozumelHome.html#anchor313302 http://www.flaquarium.net/greenmoray.htm http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/moray.html |
 1.)
When bit by an eel it will usually not let go. Pulling away from
it will make the skin tear. To
2.) After the eel has been taken care of, clean the afflicted area with clean water. Remember not to sew or close the wound. 3.)
Most eel bites get infected so get to the doctor immediately for a check-up.
|
| Source Materials
and Related Links:
"Undiscovered Florida."
Natural
History. July/August 1998. vol. 107. pg 35.
|
|
grndejaime@aol.com WhoZoo contact: mac@whozoo.org 
Mailbox and diver are courtesy of Animation Zone.com |
