Turkey moray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turkey moray |
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The turkey moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) is a cool type of moray eel that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the guineafowl moray or the white-mouth moray because of its unique look. This fish is part of a big family of eels called Muraenidae.
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What Does the Turkey Moray Look Like?
The turkey moray is a medium-sized eel. It can grow up to 120 centimeters (about 4 feet) long. However, most turkey morays that people see are much smaller.
This eel has a body shaped like a snake. Its skin is dark brown or black. All over its body, you'll see many small white spots. These spots are spread out evenly, making it look like a starry night. A special feature of this moray is the inside of its mouth, which is completely white!
Where Does the Turkey Moray Live?
The white-mouth moray lives in warm ocean waters. You can find it across the Indo-Pacific region. This area stretches from the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea. It goes all the way to Polynesia and Hawaii. You can also find it from southern Japan down to New Caledonia.
This type of moray eel is not very common in most places. But in Hawaii, it seems to be found more often.
Its Ocean Home
Turkey morays love shallow waters. They live in lagoons and on coral reefs. These places are full of corals and other fish. They usually stay in water up to 36 meters (about 118 feet) deep.
They spend a lot of time hiding in holes in the reef. From these hiding spots, they can quickly pop out. They surprise fish swimming by and grab them for a meal. These eels are very good at finding food. They use their strong sense of smell to detect prey in the water.
What Does the Turkey Moray Eat?
The turkey moray is active both during the day and at night. It hunts for food whenever it's hungry. Its main diet includes small fish. Sometimes, it also eats crustaceans, like crabs or shrimp.
See also
In Spanish: Gymnothorax meleagris para niños
