Green Moray Eel | Oceana

Home / Green Moray Eel

Marine Life Encyclopedia > Ocean Fishes > Green Moray Eel

Green Moray Eel

The green moray eel earned its name for the greenish hue of its body, but it’s not actually green! This eel has brown-grey skin covered in a yellow mucus that gives it that green appearance.

 

Found in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, the green moray eel is typically found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys but individuals have been observed as far north as New Jersey in the United States and as far south as Brazil. These solitary and nocturnal creatures prefer rocky, intertidal areas, mangroves, and coral reefs as well as other areas over sandy or muddy sea floors. They can also be found in rock crevices or caves — which is impressive given their size! Although these eels typically weigh around 13.3 kg (29.3 pounds) and measure 1.8 meters (5.9 feet), they can reach weights up to 29 kg (63.9 pounds) and lengths of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) long!

The green moray eel is not picky when it comes to food, but primarily eats fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They’ve even been known to chow down on fish too large to fit in their mouths by wrapping their bodies around the prey to take more manageable bites.

 

 

Because of their known dangerous bite, adult green moray eels have few natural predators and no known major threats to their populations.

 

 

Taking steps to tackle the climate crisis — like stopping the expansion of offshore drilling — can address the acceleration of warming ocean temperatures that degrade coral habitats and threaten the future of animals like the green moray eel. Learn more about how Oceana campaigns to protect our climate here.

 

 

 

GET INVOLVED

DONATE TODAY

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean.

DONATE

TAKE ACTION NOW

SUPPORT POLICY CHANGE FOR THE OCEANS

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

ACT NOW

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

SHOP THE STORE

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

LEARN MORE

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

MORE CAMPAIGNS

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-569-4895
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: