Ribbon Eel

The ribbon eel is also called a ribbon moray, a Bernis eel, and a leaf-nosed moray. These eels live on coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans off the coasts of southern Japan, eastern Africa, French Polynesia, and Australia. They can live for 20 years in the wild, but don’t survive for very long in captivity.

4 Ribbon Eel Facts

• Both male and female: All ribbon eels are born male. But, as this animal ages and changes colors, it develops female reproductive parts, allowing it to lay eggs.
• Ghost eels: The white or ghost ribbon eel is closely related to the blue-ribbon eel. It’s called a ghost because of its shining white skin. Also, ghost eels only come out at night to hunt. They live in the same habitat as blue-ribbon eels.
• Transparent bodies: During the larval stage, a ribbon eel’s body is transparent or see-through.
• Mouth breathing eels: A ribbon eel is usually seen with its mouth opening and closing. This is not a sign of aggression. An eel does this to push water over its gills to breathe.

Classification and Scientific Name

This eel’s scientific name is Rhinomuraena quaesita. The Greek word Rhinomuraena translates to moray eel nose, which refers to this eel’s distinctive, elongated nose. The word quaesita means sought after, referring to the fact that this eel stays hidden in coral reefs.

Other names for this eel include ribbon moray, Bernis eel, and the leaf-nosed moray. It is in the Muraenidae family and the class Actinopterygii.

Types of Moray Eel: The Different Species

This eel belongs to the moray eel family. This family has 223 members of different sizes and colors. Many of them live in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Some species in the moray eel or Muraenidae family include:

• Seychelles moray (Anarchias seychellensis): This moray eel lives in coral reefs off the western and eastern coasts of Australia. It has a yellow-tipped tail.
• White-margined moray (Gymnothorax albimarginatus): It lives near Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Its habitat includes coral reefs, and it hunts in lagoons. It’s named for the white line on its dorsal fin and measures 47 inches.
• Tiger moray (Scuticaria tigrina): This moray gets its name from the black or dark brown splotchy pattern atop its light brown body. They live near the bottom of coral reefs located in the Gulf of California and elsewhere in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako): Measuring two to three feet long, this moray is notable for its brown body featuring a white snowflake pattern.

Appearance

This eel has been compared to the mythical Chinese dragon due to its long, curving body and dorsal fin. It changes color as it gets older. A larva eel is transparent, while a juvenile is black with a dorsal fin of yellow. As it becomes fully grown, it turns a brilliant blue with a yellow dorsal fin.

These eels are all born male but develop female reproductive organs later in life. At this point, it’s able to lay eggs. These eels can grow to 51 inches in size.

The movements of this eel are similar to a thin ribbon waving through the air — a flowing, zig-zagging movement through the water. It’s easy for these eels to disappear into a tiny crevice in a coral reef due to their narrow body. Their speed, combined with the ability to wiggle inside a coral reef, can help these eels escape predators.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

This eel’s range includes the eastern coast of Africa, the northern and southern coasts of Japan, French Polynesia, and the northern coast of Australia. It lives in coral reefs and can be seen from one to 220 feet down in the saltwater ocean.

The population of this eel is unknown. However, it’s considered Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Predators and Prey

Ribbon eels are carnivores that don’t need to leave the safety of their coral reef to find food.

What do ribbon eels eat?

They eat small fish and crustaceans. Instead of coming out of its coral reef crevice, it sticks its head out. It uses its fluttery nostrils to attract prey. A small fish or crustacean is likely to mistake this fluttery object as something to eat. When the prey gets close enough, the eel grabs it.

What eats ribbon eels?

Fish that are larger in size and sea birds eat ribbon eels.

Though they are sometimes captured and sold at a high price as exotic pets, these eels are considered Least Concern.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Scientists believe the breeding season is sometime between late winter and early spring. A female lays eggs, and a male releases sperm to fertilize them. They lay a small batch of leaf-shaped eggs that hatch in about eight weeks.

Newly hatched eels are called larvae and are transparent. In short, they have the shape of an eel, but you can see through them.

Soon, a ribbon eel progresses into the juvenile stage. At this point, its body is black with a yellow dorsal fin. At the adult stage, the eel becomes bright blue with a yellow dorsal fin.

In the wild, these eels can live up to 20 years. Unfortunately, they pay a sad price when captured to be kept as pets. They usually die within a month in a fish tank.