This is the Scuticar tigrina or tiger snake morey eel
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The eel in the photo above is the Tiger Snake Morey Eel. Scientific name is Scuticar tigrina.
This eel can grow up to 4-5 feet in length and be found in depths of water from 15-65 feet. The eel typically has a gray or brown body with round dark spots of various sizes. They typically hang out in sandy and rocky reefs. This eel has poor eyesight but an exceptional sense of smell. They can detect dead/dying animals.
The Tiger snake eel is nocturnal and carnivorous and feeds on small fish and crustaceans.
They are known to even attack and eat other eels. Eels have two sets of jaws. One is in the throat and is called the pharyngeal jaw. They can push this jaw from the back of the pharynx or throat into their mouth in order to grasp and tear the prey and transport it into itʻs throat and stomach. The oral teeth are the main teeth in the mouth and they are used to catch the prey. Another interesting fact about eels is that they have thick skin and a large number of cells that will secrete a mucus on the epidermis. This helps them to move freely in and out of small crevices on the reef. It is also a deterrent to other fish.
The image above was taken during a Private Ocean Project Maui Snorkel Tour.
This colorful image was taken off a West Maui Beach by the dedicated staff of Ocean Project Maui. They offer custom, private snorkel tours around the island of Maui, Hawaii. Each #COLORSOFTHEOCEAN image you see in our monthly blog, was captured during a private guided snorkel tour. These amazing images, as well as images above and below the water of the clients/supporters are included in every tour at no additional cost.
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