Chain moray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chain moray |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Muraenidae |
| Genus: | Echidna |
| Species: |
E. catenata
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| Binomial name | |
| Echidna catenata (Bloch, 1795)
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| Synonyms | |
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The chain moray (scientific name: Echidna catenata) is a type of moray eel. You can find it in the shallow waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. It also lives around islands in other parts of the Atlantic. Sometimes, these unique eels are kept in aquariums.
Chain morays can grow quite long, up to 165 cm (65 in). However, they are more commonly around 40 cm (16 in) in length.
Contents
What Does the Chain Moray Look Like?
The chain moray is a long, strong, eel-shaped fish. It usually grows to be about 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) long. Its head has a rounded snout. It also has blunt, pointed teeth, especially on the roof of its mouth. These special teeth help it crush the shells of crabs, which are its favorite food.
Body Features
The chain moray has a unique fin setup. Its dorsal fin (on its back), tail fin, and anal fins (on its belly) are all joined together. This forms one long fin along its body. It does not have pectoral fins (like arms) or ventral fins (like legs).
Skin and Color
This eel's skin is smooth and has no scales. Instead, it's covered in a clear, slimy layer of mucus. The chain moray is dark brown or black. It has bright yellow lines that connect together, looking like a chain or a net. Its eyes are also yellow, which helps it stand out!
Where Do Chain Morays Live?
The chain moray lives in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its home stretches from Bermuda, Florida, and The Bahamas. It also lives down to the Antilles and Brazil. You can find it often in the Caribbean.
Their Habitat
They have also been seen in the eastern Atlantic, near Cape Verde and Ascension Island. Some southern Atlantic islands are also home to them. Chain morays prefer reefs and rocky shores. They like clear water that is not very deep, usually less than 12 m (39 ft). They often stay very close to the surface, within 2 m (6.6 ft).
How Chain Morays Live and Hunt
Chain morays are mostly active at night. During the day, they hide in holes and cracks in shallow water. You might often see just their head sticking out. They constantly open and close their mouths. This helps water flow over their gills, so they can breathe.
What They Eat
These eels are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. Their main food is crabs. They also enjoy shrimps, worms, octopuses, and small fish. Their blunt teeth are perfect for crushing the hard shells of crustaceans like crabs.
Hunting Strategies
Chain morays don't always leave their hiding spots to find food. Sometimes, they just wait there. If any prey swims by, they are ready to grab it! They also hunt in tide pools. They can even survive out of water for up to half an hour!
When hunting, they use different tricks:
- They search under rocks and in holes for hidden prey.
- They stalk animals they see.
- They might chase prey for up to 5 m (16 ft).
When they are close enough, usually 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) away, they strike quickly. They can even do this with part of their body out of the water! If they catch a large crab, they tear it apart. Smaller crabs are swallowed whole.
 | Leon Lynch |
 | Milton P. Webster |
 | Ferdinand Smith |
