3/28/2023 0 Comments Moray eel vs wolf eel![]() Many people wonder if they can eat a moray eel – and the answer is most definitely not. Thus, they learned the head-bob behavior initiates a hunt and it has been ritualized since. An alternate hypothesis might be that when grouper and moray first faced off they scared nearby fish and both benefitted. In one model, one species would benefit by first following the other, until both species realized a benefit and a starting ritual (like the head-bob) was formed. ![]() ![]() While it is not completely understood how two species can learn how to communicate and hunt together, the behavior obviously benefits both species and would likely be selected as a beneficial trait. At the same time, fish focused on avoiding the grouper make easy prey for the moray. The moray can move easily through the inside of the reef, driving scared fish right into the grouper. After giving each other a polite head nod, the two hunters take off through the reef. This behavior of cooperative hunting is seen in a few different animals, but morays and groupers have been seen cooperatively hunting by many divers. Interspecies Cooperative Behaviors – Huntingīelieve it or not – moray eels will team up with other fish to hunt the reef. This helps them catch a number of small fish and crustaceans and allows them to get away from large predators. Without large, inflexible gill arches, the eels can bend and flex through tiny spaces. The pharyngeal jaws may serve a second purpose in morays – flexibility! Moray eels are commonly found crammed in tiny coral reef crevices. A zebra moray eel wedges itself into a crack in the coral Moray eels appear to be the only group of fish that have evolved these structures into another set of jaws. They can even develop “gill rakers” – special protrusions that collect algae and funnel it to the throat. In other fish, these slits develop into pharyngeal arches made of cartilage. The pharyngeal jaws, in a baby moray eel, start out as the “pharyngeal gill slits.” All vertebrates – from tiny fish to humans – have these gill slits as embryos. To understand what an amazing adaptation this is, we have to take a look at developmental biology to understand where these structures originate and why they are important. Moray eels are unique because of their pharyngeal jaws – a second set of teeth in the back of the throat that can lunge forward to grasp prey. Below, we discuss a few of the most important! Pharyngeal Jaws from Pharyngeal Arches Many of the moray eel’s most interesting features are actually related to important biological concepts that relate to animals across the animal kingdom. Since they can bite and regrip separately, this double set of jaws allows morays to gulp down large, strong prey. Moray eels, therefore, have two sets of teeth. Instead of supportive cartilaginous arches that support the structure of the gills, pharyngeal jaws develop teeth and musculature. Other fish develop gill arches with the pharyngeal slits of the embryo, but morays use these structures into a way to eat faster. The family Muraenidae (moray eels) is often distinguished by their pharyngeal jaws. While some species have adapted to hunt a specific prey, many moray species are generalists and will capture fish, crustaceans, and the occasional squid or octopus. There are spotted morays, green morays, zebra morays, honeycomb morays, snowflake morays, and many other patterns and colors. Since morays have adapted to a huge number of reefs with slightly different environments and selective pressures, these eels now show a massive amount of variety. Plus, morays display a striking array of different colors and patterns.Ī honeycomb moray eel shows its patterned tongue In fact, the two animals have even developed a head-nod technique signaling the start of the hunt. Morays are known to cooperatively hunt with other species of fish. Though many of the 200+ species are much smaller than this, all morays are very capable predators. The Giant Moray Eel is among the largest coral reef predators, reaching lengths of 10 feet or more. Though some species live in rivers and colder, temperate, marine waters, most moray eel species thrive on the world’s coral reefs. ![]() With over 200 distinct species, moray eels are found across the world in both marine and freshwater environments. The moray eel is actually a family of eels clearly distinguished by their massive heads, pharyngeal jaws, and striking coloration. Mostly coral reefs, though some species prefer freshwater habitats Some species Endangered, some Least Concern
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |