Hi, the divers are all concerned with IFdiving!
There are more than 800 known eel species worldwide, including freshwater eels and saltwater eels. Today I would like to introduce some of the best of them.
Eels can sometimes appear intimidating, usually because of the way they breathe and filter oxygen through their mouths. In reality, however, if we can respect their space (as it should be for all marine life), they will show neither aggression nor danger, and most of them will have quite distinctive characteristics. To date, more than 800 species of freshwater and saltwater eels have been found worldwide. Gossip aside, here are five "representatives" of the eel world:
I'm the most colorful: the multicolored eel
Multicolored eels cruising among corals (Photo: Nadia Aly)
Multicolored eel, also known as tube-nose catfish, is a very recognizable eel due to its bright color and distinctive characteristics. They have large fan-shaped nostrils and a distinctive dorsal fin. Young multicolored eels are black with a yellow dorsal fin. When they mature, males change from black to electric blue, with a yellowish dorsal fin and around the mouth. Females eventually turn yellow almost all over their bodies. They usually live on the ocean floor, protrude from sand or holes from time to time, and are often seen in shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific and Northwest Pacific.
My Most Swinging: Garden Eel (Conge Eel)
Hastelloy eel
This small eel lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and usually inhabits the sandy seabed en masse, protruding its head from its burrows. Since they are always in flocks, they look like grass that grows out of the underwater garden and sways with the wind, hence the name "garden eel". They can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) long, but most of the time they are hidden in the sand, sticking out only a small part of their body. Different species of garden eels vary in color.
My biggest: javanese naked-breasted eel
A Javan nude-breasted eel filters oxygen through its mouth (Photo: Nadia Aly)
Yes, they are the heaviest and largest species in the eel family — up to 10 feet (3 meters) long and 66 pounds (30 kilograms) in weight. From East Africa to Hawaii, the Javanese naked-breasted eel is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They hunt on the reef at night, feeding mainly on fish and sometimes small crustaceans. Like some other moray eel species, they have a second pair of teeth in their throats, which allows them to better grasp their prey. Given their adult size, they have few natural predators. In addition, they will not actively attack divers unless provoked.
I'm the most... Flash: Electric eel
Electric eels are technical up to fish
Although this freshwater fish is often referred to as "eels", they are actually close relatives of catfish. They inhabit the freshwater of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America. They can be discharged through multiple organs in the body. They use low voltages to navigate the environment and stun prey with high voltages. They feed mainly on invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs, but can also prey on small mammals or fish.
I am the most beautiful: the cloud-striped snake eel
Hawaii's cloud-striped snake eel
This pretty eel lives in the central and Indo-Pacific regions and can reach lengths of up to 3 feet (1 meter), but is usually smaller and lives in shallow waters. They are common, and we can easily recognize them because they have snowflake-like patterns of white, black, and yellow on their bodies.
They usually forage at night, so during the day they may only be seen sticking their heads out of holes and preying on small fish and crustaceans with the help of a keen sense of smell. Another trait they have is hermaphrodite, which means that depending on the individual, they may change their sex throughout their lifetime, or complete the process of mating and reproduction with partners of both sexes.
After reading the above five types of eels, do you now have a deeper understanding of eels? What is your favorite? Welcome to leave your opinion!