That's A Moray Monday: Bonaire Style

Greetings from the island of Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles. I've been crazy busy since the moment I landed, but have also found time to get into the water in the spectacular Bonaire Marine Park. So since it's all about Bonaire this week, I thought I'd bring you a native moray found in the park.

Chain moray
Echidna catenata
The Chain moray can be found throughout the Western Atlantic, from Bermuda, Florida, and the Bahamas to the Antilles and Brazil. In the Eastern Atlantic, it has been documented in Cape Verde and Ascension Island. I wouldn't say they are common in Bonaire, but if you are observant you can just see their snouts protruding from holes in dark, shaded areas of the reef.

This moray species is identified by a short blunt snout, yellow chain-like markings along the length of its body, and bluntly pointed or molar-like teeth, even on the roof of its mouth. A benthic and solitary species, the Chain moray is found on reefs and rocky shore areas. They feed on small fishes and crustaceans. Off NE Brazil, the Chain moray forages for shore crabs on exposed reefs at ebb tide and in tide-pools during the day. Amazingly, this species is able to withstand up to 30 minutes out of water while foraging.