Moray eel : New Species
Researchers have discovered a new species of Moray eel at the Mudasalodai fish landing centre off the Cuddalore coast.
- Moray eels or Muraenidae are a family of eels found worldwide
- They have small eyes and rely primarily on their highly developed sense of smell to ambush prey. Their body is mostly patterned.
- Moray eels live in shallow water among reefs and rocks in all tropical and subtropical seas.
- Moray eels can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
- They are distinguished by two types of jaws: regular (oral) jaws with large teeth and the pharyngeal jaw (which drags prey inside the eel’s stomach).
- The newly discovered species has been named after Tamil Nadu as Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis with common name as Tamil Nadu brown moray.
