Readers will recall that I recently reported on an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) apparently afflicting a variety of species of moray eels in the waters of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Thanks to an update from Jerry Ligon on Bonaire--one of the finest naturalists and dive guides I've had the pleasure of meeting--I have more details though, sadly, not a lot of answers yet.According to Jerry's tally, 25 carcasses representing five different moray species have been confirmed.
A discussion group has been active on the online forum Bonaire Talk, and residents and visitors of Bonaire have been providing both information and speculation. Several individuals have posted images of specimens they observed at various dive locations. Dr. John W. Gnann, Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama was kind enough to give me permission to reprint the above image of a dead Green moray (Gymnothorax funebris) he found at a shore divesite called Witch's Hut. He captured the image on July 28 at a depth of about 30-35 feet.Dr. Gnann's image (captured on July 28) and that of a Caribbean Spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa)--posted on the Bonaire Talk site by Rolf Kurzhals as being captured on August 22 at about 50 ft.--are documented as being observed earlier than I originally reported last week as the start of the UME (early September). Another diver forum, ScubaToys, has a post from a recent visitor to Bonaire who writes that she observed a "Big dead Green moray" while diving the popular 1000 Steps shore dive.
The UMEs may have manifested as early as Midsummer. As more data and diver observations are collected, this date could move earlier still.
Again, speculating on potential agents would still be premature. From the chat on Bonaire Talk, efforts appear to be focused on getting dead specimens refrigerated and to the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Research Station on Bonaire. I'm unsure what analysis will be performed there, but if Bonaire readers can provide further information I'd be very grateful.
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