Eels and Morays: Anguilliformes

Physical characteristics: Green morays grow to 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length and weigh as much as 64 pounds (29 kilograms). Green morays are green to dark grayish green all over. The green color comes from the combination of yellow slime on dark blue skin.

Geographic range: Green morays live throughout the western and eastern Atlantic and the eastern Pacific Oceans.

Habitat: Green morays live at the bottom along rocky shorelines, in reefs, and among mangrove trees in waters shallower than about 98 feet (30 meters).

Diet: Green morays eat fishes and bottom-dwelling crustaceans.

Behavior and reproduction: Green morays attach themselves to coral or rocks or bury themselves in the bottom and allow the front half of their bodies to move with the current, keeping their mouths Green morays grow to 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length and weigh as much as 64 pounds (29 kilograms). (©J.W. Mowbray, 1987/The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.) open to catch any food animal that comes near. Green morays are cleaned by small fishes. Little is known about reproduction among green morays except that they use external fertilization and have clear, fanged larvae.

Green morays and people: Green morays are consumed as food. Large ones can cause food poisoning, however.

Conservation status: Green morays are not threatened or endangered. ∎