That's A Moray Monday: It's Not Easy Being Green

Another Monday, another moray. I've been spending a lot of time on some of the more exotic morays over the past few weeks, but I think it's time to get vulgar. And I'm preferring to use the more neutral definition of vulgar here to mean "common". And what's more common than the Green moray?

Green Moray
Gymnothorax funebris
Also known as the black moray, green conger, green congo, green eel, and olive-green moray eel, the Green moray is one of the most common and one of the largest of the moray eels, averaging 1.8 m in length, but can grow up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft.) long and weigh up to 29 kg. (about 64 pounds!).

Why so much variation in color for this moray species? In part, it's normal genetic variation in the skin pigmentation. The Green moray in fact has blueish skin. The overall dark green to brown appearance is the result of a yellowish mucus produced by the eel that covers its blueish skin. The mucus provides protection from parasites and infectious bacteria, but the resultant overall greenish coloration provides cryptic coloration and assists the eel in hiding in the reef from unsuspecting prey. Most of the bright green colors in the images you see here are the result of flash photography. But check out the eels appearance in the image below without a flash.


Camouflage coloration often extend into the mouth of the green moray, which continually opens and closes slowly to move water over the gills for respiration. The large mouth features strong, pointed sharp teeth. The body is muscular with a long dorsal fin that extends down the length of the body starting from the head and ending in a short tail fin.

Green morays have an enormous range as well as tolerance to wide environmental parameters. The Green moray has been observed in the Western Atlantic: New Jersey (USA), Bermuda and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. A specimen was recorded once from Nova Scotia, Canada. It can be found in the eastern Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans as well.

Like most morays, the Green is a benthic and solitary species found along rocky shorelines, reefs, and in mangrove habitats. Depth ranges from 1-30 m. The Green moray is a nocturnal predator with poor eyesight that uses its sense of smell to hunt for fish, squid, octopuses, crabs and occasionally even other eels. I found out first hand how poorly sighted Green morays can be during a night snorkel in Roatan, Honduras. I was snorkeling around the turtle grass beds just offshore behind the reef when I felt something against my belly, under my loose-fitting t-shirt. I focused my light beneath me to see a meter-long Green moray exiting my shirt. Charming.

These eels can be territorial and have been known to occupy a specific reef for many years. Due to its large size, the bites of this moray can be particularly dangerous, however unless provoked, this eel is not a threat to humans. This somewhat docile nature has resulted in some Green morays becoming habituated to human activity. When this is coupled with feeding from divers, it can make for dangerously aggressive fish. While close diver encounters with big Green morays are no doubt thrilling (and make for big tips to dive guides), accidental bites from such "tame" individuals have been all too common. Unfortunately, photo evidence from Google image search shows that diver awareness-building is still needed.



Within their native range they are eaten by some indigenous peoples but the risk of contracting ciguatera poisoning from this species is considered great.