Dragon Moray Eel – Smiles Are Deceptive
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So why is the Dragon Moray eel always smiling? Well they don’t actually have much choice since their lower jaws are curved and prohibit closing their mouth completely. Add in all those teeth and these guys are quite menacing to look at.
Of course the multi-colored body, nostril flares and horns above the eyes also add to the scary look. The Dragon Moray is also known as the Hawaiian Dragon eel, just plain Dragon eel, or sometimes called a Leopard eel. By whatever name, they are hard to mistake for anything else.
The Dragon Moray is a carnivore, eating fish and octopus. The menacing look is also realated to breathing as they have to keep their mouth open to do so.
They will grow to around three feet in length and will eat about any size prey they can get in their mouths. One in, the many razor sharp teeth keep a meal from escaping.
Living in the south pacific, these eels find suitable homes in caves & crevices, or along the reef in branching corals. They don’t have to eat often, and will not attack unless hungry or provoked. They can sometimes be found outside their lairs, but mostly stay concealed waiting for unsuspecting prey.
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