Appearance and lifestyle:
Zebra moray eels (Gymnomuraena zebra) are black or dark brown, and they have white stripes, like a zebra hence their name. Unlike some other eel species that have fang-like teeth, they have rounded, almost pebble-shaped, teeth. Zebra moray eels can grow to 90cm in length. They are fairly docile and reclusive and hunt mostly at night.
Habitat:
Zebra moray eels live on reefs in warm tropical oceans.
Diet:
They use these specially adapted teeth to crush the hard shells of their prey which include crabs and sea urchins.
Threats:
Pollution, climate change, habitat loss etc.
Some moray eels have lived in captivity for 20 years.
Zebra eels can grow to 90cm in length.
Zebra eels are the only member of the genus Gymnomuraena.