We sincerely hope that you thoroughly enjoy this article about 4 Stunning Marine Eels. Truth be told, many of these incredibly amazing creatures remain a source of fear among many humans who venture into their element, even today.
While it’s true that some of them can be dangerous, the same holds true for any creature, if threatened, even man. Therefore, let’s learn to not judge them unfairly, but to treat them with the same respect and appreciation all forms of life deserve to be shown.
Dragon Moray Eel
Dragon Moray Eel Facts
- Leading off this article about 4 Stunning Marine Eels is the visually and physically impressive animal known as the Dragon Moray Eel.
- The amazing denizen of the depths stands out from the crowd of its many related creatures for its incredibly colored body. In fact, this visually breathtaking animal quite easily remains one of the most colorful of all known species of eel.
- Many people, including researchers, also consider one of the unique bodily features of the species to be a fascinating evolutionary development. This distinctive feature resembles a pair of horns of dragons of lore, hence the common name.
- The species also possesses an extremely voracious appetite and tends to be highly aggressive in overall nature. Due to this combination of factors, individuals of this impressive species will feed on virtually any creature that will fit in its mouth.
- This amazing animal also has the astounding ability to spontaneously change its gender, to the great surprise of many. This occurs as a result of the lack of sufficient numbers of the opposite sex. Some hermaphrodites have even been found.
- For the moment, the population numbers of the stunning Dragon Moray Eel appear to be both stable and sufficient. The IUCN, therefore, presently has no listing for this particular animal on its Red List of Threatened Species.
Dragon Moray Eel Physical Description
Currently, scientists classify the beautiful Dragon Moray Eel as a medium-sized species of eel. This occurs because individuals attain an average length of just over 3 ft (1 m). In addition, the bodies develop as highly elongated, the same as other eels.
The brilliant colors of the species also represent its most noteworthy physical feature. In fact, each individual displays a combination of yellow, orange, red, black, and white markings along the length of its body. These remain as distinct as fingerprints.
Each individual of the Dragon Moray Eel also possesses a pair of highly elongated tubular nostrils on its head. It is these that many think resemble dragon horns, thus leading to the common name. The over-sized mouth also contains numerous razor-sharp teeth.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Anguilliformes
- Family: Muraenidae
- Genus: Enchelycore
- Species: E. pardalis
Dragon Moray Eel Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
To begin with, the brilliantly colored Dragon Moray Eel primarily inhabits the Indo-Pacific region. This also includes a range from Hawaii to Japan. Within that area, it primarily inhabits regions of coral reefs and rock formations on shallow ocean bottoms.
Most studied specimens of this wonder of Nature also typically live at very shallow depths ranging from 26-197 ft (8-60 m). Additionally, individuals and pairs alike usually prefer to inhabit a shallow den constructed within the local surroundings.
Hunting for prey typically occurs at night. That’s because its natural coloring remains less obvious in the reduced lighting. This carnivore mainly preys on shrimp, fish, squid, or crab, but the animal will also attack anything it feels it can consume.
While the Dragon Moray Eel often chooses to live in pairs, the species reproduces through spawning. This trait it shares with a great number of species in the various oceans of the world. The reason for the pairing, though, remains a mystery to researchers.
Ribbon Eel
Ribbon Eel Facts
- Our next selection for inclusion among these 4 Stunning Marine Eels is the amazing species simply called the Ribbon Eel.
- Firstly, the truly fantastic looking creature appears to be an extremely unusual species of eel. The surprising creature also evolved as endemic to a highly specific portion of the world. But this alone does not distinguish it from its brethren.
- The truly remarkable animal actually holds one incredible secret that legitimately sets it apart from related species. That, to some, bold statement, holds true due to the fact that all members of this fascinating species begin their lives as males.
- However, at a random time after reaching maturity, some individuals spontaneously change their gender to female. What causes some individuals to do so, but not others remains a mystery that continues to baffle researchers.
- Not only that, but due to its physical appearance, many believe it to be a member of the moray eel family. However, scientific study proved that this is not the case for the Ribbon Eel. This surprising species, in fact, belongs to an entirely different family.
- Although it rarely lives long in captivity, hunting of it for home aquariums persists. Fortunately, its numbers in the wild appear stable, despite this practice. However, that could easily change, due to a variety of factors, including climate change.
Ribbon Eel Physical Description
Most notably, many people believe that the brilliantly colored Ribbon Eel bears a strong resemblance to the mythical Chinese Dragon. That belief occurs because the animal possesses a very long, thin body.
Fascinatingly, the amazing creature also changes colors as it ages, in a characteristic shared by many species. Because of this trait, infants and young individuals generally appear primarily dark back, with a yellow dorsal fin.
Meanwhile, physically mature individuals display the physiological trait of sexual dimorphism in regards to coloring. Firstly, in adult males, the black gets replaced by bright blue. Secondly, mature females appear mainly yellow, with occasional blue spots.
Females of the incredible Ribbon Eel also tend to a greater length than their male counterparts. That’s because mature females average roughly 51 in (130 cm) in length, while males rarely exceed 37 in (94 cm). Such a degree of difference is also distinctive.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Anguilliformes
- Family: Muraenidae
- Genus: Rhinomuraena
- Species: R. quaesita
Ribbon Eel Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Quite surprisingly to some people, the dazzlingly colored Ribbon Eel evolved as endemic to a fairly extensive territorial range. In fact, that surprisingly broad range of habitation extends from the waters off East Africa to southern Asia, and Australia.
Also, this truly interesting creature generally prefers to inhabit shallower regions of the ocean. This most commonly consists of regions of coral reefs and lagoons. The outstanding work of Nature is rarely seen further out into the ocean.
Although the Ribbon Eel tends to be fairly gentle in comparison to some other eels, it often gets mistaken for an aggressive species. This erroneous impression occurs due to the fact that its mouth stays open as if poised to strike. In reality, it does this so that it can breathe.
This amazing ocean creature predominantly feeds as an ambush predator, much like many related species. In this, it’s perfectly evolved and adapted. From its concealment, it swiftly pounces upon its prey which usually mainly consists of either shrimp or small fish.
Electric Eel
Electric Eel Facts
- The third entry into this compendium of 4 Stunning Marine Eels is stunning in more ways the one, the aptly-named Electric Eel.
- Perhaps the most notable fact about the amazing animal remains the simple fact that it does not actually represent a species of eel. In fact, the highly remarkable creature actually constitutes a particular variety of knife fish.
- Plus, this truly amazing creation of Nature also remains the only species in its genus. Presently, few specimens exist in captivity, since it remains difficult to catch. Its distinctive name does not completely mislead us in our image of such a creature.
- The wonder of Nature evolved a most shocking ability. Its astounding evolutionary path provided the fascinating fish with the ability to generate, and to discharge at will, electric currents. Quite surprisingly, these can measure as much as 600 volts.
- For the moment, the known population of the stunning Electric Eel appears to be both sufficient and stable, within its native habitat. The IUCN therefore presently lists the animal as Least Concern on its Red List of Threatened Species.
- The very nature and location of that endemic range, however, also serves to render it especially vulnerable to several threats. These factors, not surprisingly, consist of the dual dangers of habitat loss and the ongoing effects of climate change.
Electric Eel Physical Description
The amazing Electric Eel possesses a highly elongated shape completely in keeping with its kind. In fact, mature individuals average a body length of roughly 6.5 ft (2 m). In addition, fully grown individuals also attain an average weight of about 44 lb (20 kg).
Exceptional specimens of this remarkable species even reach 8 ft (2.4 m) in length. However, the species exhibits a marked degree of the characteristic of sexual dimorphism. In its case, the males attain a significantly greater length than the females of the species.
Its coloring typically presents a grayish brown on top, and orange or yellow on the underside. Further differentiating the genders of the awesome animal, females generally display a darker color on the abdomen. Unlike most fish, it does not possess scales.
This ever-startling marvel of evolution also evolved as an entirely air-breathing fish. Therefore, it must return to the surface every 10-12 minutes to breathe. The incredible array of marvelous adaptations displayed by this unique form of life do not end here, though.
As proof of the versatility and resourcefulness of Nature, this breathtaking creature evolved the ability to generate electric charges within its own body. The three electricity-generating organs of its elongated body occupy about 80% of the body length, though.
The Electric Eel also remains fully capable of varying the intensity of the electric discharge. These organs are comprised primarily of specialized electrolytes. In fact, its biological processes generate its electric current in the same manner as a man-made battery.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Gymnotiformes
- Family: Gymnotidae
- Genus: Electrophoros
- Species: E. electricus
Electric Eel Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The incredible Electric Eel evolved as native to an extremely restricted habitat range. This tiny area consists solely of the Amazon Basin and the Orinoco Basin, in South America. It also currently remains unknown if the animal ever possessed a more extensive range.
For the moment, no evidence exists to suggest that it ever lived anywhere else. Even in this region, the fish inhabits only specific types of habitats. These areas of habitation mainly consist of various swamps, floodplains, small rivers and creeks, and coastal plains.
Mature individuals generally prefer to live in areas with an abundance of stagnant water or muddy bottoms. Also, within its limited territorial range, it ranks as a true apex predator. The very young feed mainly on small invertebrates, such as crabs and shrimp.
But, the larger adults mainly feed on such prey as fish, and even small mammals that stray too close to the water. These same individuals will also consume invertebrates opportunistically, since Nature created the animal as highly adaptable in nature.
The astonishingly impressive Electric Eel also remains well-known among researchers for its unusual mating practices. In the mating season, the male builds a nest, actually made from its own saliva. The female then lays as many as 3,000 eggs into this nest.
Quite notoriously among researchers, the young that hatch first frequently eat the other eggs in the nest. In this manner, these reduce the competition for food. Not surprisingly, adults remain highly aggressive, especially during breeding season.
Gulper Eel
Gulper Eel Facts
- The final entry into this compendium of 4 Stunning Marine Eels is the rarely seen creature known as the Gulper Eel.
- Perhaps most notably of all, the animal currently remains one of the most unusual appearing creatures in any ocean. Quite understandably, photographs of the creature also remain extremely rare, hence the poor quality of this photo.
- Given the highly extreme nature of its habitat, most of what humans know of this mysterious and unique creature comes from a regrettable source. That’s the analysis of individuals accidentally trapped in the ever-present deep-sea fishing nets.
- Amazingly, the bioluminescence that this remarkable species produces also glows an amazing brilliant pink or red. This uniquely evolved process serves the purpose of attracting its prey directly to it, thus generally eliminating the need to hunt.
- Most fortunately, unlike many other species around the world, the Gulper Eel appears to have a stable population. Therefore, the IUCN currently list the incredible fish as a Species of Least Concern, on its Red List of Threatened Species.
Gulper Eel Physical Description
First of all, the most distinctive feature of the incredible animal known as the Gulper Eel remains the quite obvious one. That, of course, would be the enormous mouth, which actually grows to a significantly larger size than the rest of the body.
This species appears to attain a length of roughly 6 ft (1.9 m). The tip of the long tail also develops a covering of light-emitting photophores. In coloring, this creature usually displays either black or dark green. Plus, it shows no noticeable degree of sexual dimorphism.
Additionally, the mouth develops loosely hinged. This, therefore, allows the animal to swallow prey much larger than itself, much like a snake. The stomach also stretches extensively to accommodate larger prey. Truly, the Gulper Eel is a remarkable creature.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Saccopharyngiformes
- Family: Eurypharyngidae
- Genus: Eurypharynx
- Species: E. pelecanoides
Gulper Eel Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Lastly, the visually remarkable Gulper Eel lives in all temperate and tropical oceans throughout the world. But there, the species resides at a great range of depths. These run between 1,600 – 9,800 ft (500 – 3,000 m).
However, the vast majority of individuals also appear to prefer the lower part of that depth range. The exact reason for this tendency reasons undetermined at this time. But, the likely reason is the increased efficiency of its feeding techniques in darker waters.
Not surprisingly, scientists also know very little about the eel’s reproductive habits. However, it appears most likely that this fish dies shortly after reproduction. This would be similar to related species.
Further evidence indicates that the diet of the fascinating Gulper Eel consists primarily of smaller crustaceans. Yet, its stomach has the astounding ability to stretch quite significantly, giving it the ability to consume larger prey, as well.
4 Stunning Marine Eels
We truly hope that you have greatly enjoyed and appreciated reading and learning about these 4 Stunning Marine Eels. Obviously, these represent just a handful of the roughly 800 recognized varieties of such creatures found throughout the oceans of the world.
But each of them has one thing in common. That’s the simple fact that Nature evolved them over millions of years to serve a specific purpose, and to fit a specific ecological niche. It’s up to each of us to do all that we can to protect and preserve them, and other species.
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