What is a learned behavior of a moray eel?
An alternate hypothesis might be that when grouper and moray first faced off they scared nearby fish and both benefitted. Thus, they learned the head-bob behavior initiates a hunt and it has been ritualized since.
What is unique about a moray eel?
Unlike other eels, moray eel has two sets of sharp teeth. First set is located in the jaw and other in the throat. Teeth located in the throat are used for breaking up of the food and for facilitated digestion. Teeth are pointed backwards, preventing the slippery prey to escape.
How does eels adapt to respond in water?
In order to get the best signal, an electric eel must hold itself rigidly in the water. Its tail fin moves in a rippling motion to propel the fish forward with little side to side movement of the body. This movement is similar to how a flag gently sways in the wind.
Why do moray eels open and close their mouths?
Most fish breathe by closing and opening their gill covers to force water over their gills. Moray eels don’t have gill covers, so they constantly open and close their mouths to breathe.
How do moray eels defend themselves?
Moray eels are carnivorous, and ambush predators. They live a rather sedentary life, waiting in hidden places for prey to pass near them. Mucus – Although moray eels are fish, they lack scales. To protect themselves, they produce a slippery protective mucus, which in some species contains toxins.
How do moray eels help the environment?
The moray eel serves its role as a top predator in its marine ecosystem, positioning itself to have few predators due to its large size and reputation to viciously attack potential threats. Green moray eels can often be seen by scuba divers along coral reefs.
How are moray eels different from other predators?
THEY HAVE TWO SETS OF JAWS. Like the monster in Alien (1979), morays attack their victims with a hidden set of chompers. Whereas most predatory fish use suction to pull food down their throats, morays instead rely upon a two-step strategy.
What is the adaptation of an eel?
Adaptation. The gulper eel has acquired a unique adaptation to be able to survive in the deep oceans with little food there. The gulper eel has developed a huge mouth with a unhinged jaw. This allows it to feed not only on small organisms, but it is also able to engulf organisms bigger than itself.
How does the moray eel move?
Since they do not have a strong tail fin like a shark, eels swim through the water by moving their whole body like a rolling wave. This movement is called an undulation. Their back (dorsal) and bottom (anal) fins are elongated along their body to help stabilize the eels as they swim.
Why do moray eels change gender?
In animals In these species, such as many species of coral reef fishes, sex change is a normal anatomical process. Clownfish, wrasses, moray eels, gobies and other fish species are known to change sex, including reproductive functions. When she dies, the most dominant male changes sex and takes her place.
Do moray eels have gill slits or flaps?
Most fish species have bony gill covers on their sides which they constantly open and close to force water over the internal gill chamber allowing them to breathe. Moray eels do not have these covers so they have to use their mouths to orally pump water through the gills.
Do moray eels protect coral reefs?
Moray eels hunt for fish in small crevices along coral reefs and shorelines. The moray eel serves its role as a top predator in its marine ecosystem, positioning itself to have few predators due to its large size and reputation to viciously attack potential threats.