Green Moray Eel

Hello there. I am a Green Moray Eel, and I want to share a little secret with you. You might think my skin is a bright green color, but it’s actually a clever trick. My body is a dark, dusky color, but it’s covered in a layer of yellowish slime. When that yellow slime covers my dark skin, I look green. This slippery coat helps protect me as I weave through the coral. My life began in a way you might not expect. I hatched from a tiny egg, not as a little eel, but as a clear, leaf-shaped larva called a leptocephalus. For many months, I was practically invisible as I drifted along the vast ocean currents. It was a long and lonely journey, floating and growing until I was strong enough to find a permanent home. Finally, I settled in various habitats, including coral reefs, rocky shorelines, mangroves, and seagrass beds, a perfect place for an eel like me to begin my real life.

My home in the reef is a maze of nooks, crannies, and caves. I love squeezing into these tight spaces because they make me feel safe and hidden from the busy ocean world outside. I spend most of my days resting in my cozy spot. You see, my eyesight isn't very good, so I don't rely on my eyes to know what's happening. Instead, I have an incredible sense of smell. My nose can detect the faintest scent of a tasty crab or fish hiding nearby. I am a nocturnal hunter, which means I do most of my hunting at night when the reef is dark. When I find a meal, I have another secret weapon. Deep inside my throat, I have a second set of jaws called pharyngeal jaws. They can shoot forward into my mouth, grab my food, and pull it down my throat. It’s a special skill that makes me a very effective hunter. People have known about my kind for a very long time; a scientist named Camilo Ranzani first wrote a scientific description of us way back in 1840.

Even though I like to keep to myself, I do have some very special friends here in the reef. They are called cleaner shrimp, and they are very brave. These little shrimp swim right up to me and even go inside my mouth. It might look dangerous, but we have an important agreement. They are my personal dentists. They crawl all over my body and inside my mouth to pick off and eat pesky parasites that could make me sick. In return for their cleaning services, they get a full meal, and I get to stay healthy and comfortable. It's a wonderful partnership. Now, I know some people think I look scary. They see me constantly opening and closing my mouth and think I am being aggressive. But that is just a big misunderstanding. That is how I breathe. Water flows into my mouth and over my gills, giving me the oxygen I need. I am actually quite shy and would much rather hide in my crevice than cause any trouble.

My role here on the reef is very important. As a predator, I help keep the number of other fish and crabs in balance. By hunting, I make sure that no single species becomes too numerous, which helps keep our entire ecosystem healthy and thriving. Every creature, big or small, has a job to do, and that is mine. I am happy to report that my species is doing quite well. The Green Moray Eel is classified as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN Red List, but the specific study confirming this status in 2015 is not identified. My life in this vibrant, bustling reef is everything I could ever want. I hope my story helps you see the wonders of the ocean and understand that every animal, from the tiniest shrimp to a long, slippery eel, plays a part in keeping our blue planet beautiful.