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  Order

Anguilliformes

  Class

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

  No. of Genera in Ref

15

  No. of Species in Ref

200

  Environment

Fresh : Yes | Brackish : Yes | Marine : Yes

  Aquarium

some

  First Fossil Record

upper   Tertiary     Miocene

  Remark

Worldwide in tropical and temperate seas. Diverse group of eels with large mouths with numerous teeth; often with fanglike (canine) teeth. Dorsal fin origin usually before the gill openings; median fins confluent with caudal fin; no pelvic and pectoral fins. Gill openings as small roundish lateral openings. Head with 1-3 lateral line pores; absent on body. Scaleless. Recorded maximum length 3.0 m. Some morays cause ciguatera fish poisoning. A skin toxin was noted in an Indo-Pacific moray eel. Adults benthic, generally in shallow water among rocks and coral heads; many species are more active at night and hide in holes and crevices during the day. Vicious reputation is undeserved, although some species will bite if provoked. Feed mainly on crustaceans, cephalopods and small fishes. Larvae (leptocephali) epipelagic, widespread and abundant. Widely used as food, but a few large species may be ciguatoxic. Generally hardy in captivity.

  Etymology

Latin, muraena = morey eel (Ref. 45335).

  Division

Marine

  Reproductive guild

nonguarders

  Typical activity level

  Main Ref

Nelson, J.S. 1994

  Coordinator

Update | Add new Family

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       

Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]