Eels & morays

327 species · 12 families

Eels and morays are snake-shaped fish with a long, flexible body and a continuous fringe of dorsal, tail and anal fin, without pelvic fins. Their skin feels smooth and slimy, and scales are small or absent. Many shelter in holes and crevices by day and hunt fish and crustaceans at night. The European eel makes an epic migration to the Sargasso Sea to spawn, while morays are true reef dwellers. From freshwater eels to conger and snake eels, it is a surprisingly diverse group.

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Abbott's eel

Gymnothorax eurostus

Muraenidae

African longfin eel

Anguilla mossambica

Anguillidae

African mottled eel

Anguilla labiata

Anguillidae

African mottled eel

Anguilla nebulosa

Anguillidae

Allardice's moray

Anarchias allardicei

Muraenidae

Amalona

Anguilla bicolor

Anguillidae

American conger

Conger oceanicus

Congridae

American eel

Anguilla rostrata

Anguillidae

Arabian pike eel

Muraenesox cinereus

Muraenesocidae

Arafura light conger

Lumiconger arafura

Congridae

Argentine conger

Conger orbignianus

Congridae

Argus moray

Muraena argus

Muraenidae

Armless snake eel

Dalophis imberbis

Ophichthidae

Ash-colored conger eel

Conger cinereus

Congridae

Australian longfinned eel

Anguilla reinhardtii

Anguillidae

Australian mottled moray

Gymnothorax prionodon

Muraenidae

Australian mottled moray

Gymnothorax australicola

Muraenidae

Australian shortfinned eel

Anguilla australis

Anguillidae

Baleares conger

Ariosoma balearicum

Congridae

Banded moray

Echidna polyzona

Muraenidae

Banded moray

Gymnothorax rueppelliae

Muraenidae

Banded mud moray

Gymnothorax chlamydatus

Muraenidae

Banded snake eel

Myrichthys colubrinus

Ophichthidae

Banded snake eel

Leiuranus semicinctus

Ophichthidae

Bar-cheeked eel

Gymnothorax pictus

Muraenidae

Barnes' garden eel

Gorgasia barnesi

Congridae

Barredfin moray

Gymnothorax zonipectis

Muraenidae

Bars'n'spots moray

Gymnothorax punctatofasciatus

Muraenidae

Bastard eel

Gymnothorax miliaris

Muraenidae

Bayer's moray

Enchelycore bayeri

Muraenidae

Beach conger

Conger japonicus

Congridae

Belted garden eel

Heteroconger balteatus

Congridae

Bengal's snake-eel

Pisodonophis boro

Ophichthidae

Berndt's moray

Gymnothorax berndti

Muraenidae

Bicolor eel

Chlopsis bicolor

Chlopsidae

Bicolor spaghetti eel

Moringua bicolor

Moringuidae

Bigeye false moray

Kaupichthys diodontus

Chlopsidae

Bigfin snake eel

Ophichthus macrochir

Ophichthidae

Bigfin spaghetti eel

Moringua macrochir

Moringuidae

Bikini moray

Enchelycore bikiniensis

Muraenidae

Black cheek moray

Gymnothorax breedeni

Muraenidae

Black leafnosed moray eel

Rhinomuraena quaesita

Muraenidae

Black moray

Gymnothorax funebris

Muraenidae

Black moray

Muraena augusti

Muraenidae

no photo

Black sawtoothed eel

Serrivomer lanceolatoides

Serrivomeridae

Black-neck snake eel

Ophichthus cephalozona

Ophichthidae

Black-tailed thrush eel

Moringua javanica

Moringuidae

Blackbelly conger

Gnathophis melanocoelus

Congridae

Blackbelly spoonbill eel

Nessorhamphus danae

Derichthyidae

Blackedge moray

Gymnothorax ocellatus

Muraenidae

Blackedge moray

Gymnothorax nigromarginatus

Muraenidae

Blackfin snake eel

Ophichthus altipennis

Ophichthidae

Blackgut conger

Gnathophis bathytopos

Congridae

Blacknose false moray

Kaupichthys atronasus

Chlopsidae

Blackpearl moray

Gymnothorax margaritophorus

Muraenidae

Blacksaddle snake eel

Callechelys catostoma

Ophichthidae

Blackspot moray

Gymnothorax melatremus

Muraenidae

Blackspotted snake eel

Quassiremus ascensionis

Ophichthidae

Blacktail moray

Gymnothorax kolpos

Muraenidae

Blacktooth myroconger

Myroconger nigrodentatus

Myrocongridae

Blotched snake eel

Callechelys muraena

Ophichthidae

Blunt-toothed snake eel

Pisodonophis daspilotus

Ophichthidae

Bluntspotted moray

Echidna amblyodon

Muraenidae

Bosch' moray eel

Echidna nebulosa

Muraenidae

Bristletooth conger

Xenomystax congroides

Congridae

Broadjaw moray

Gymnothorax eurygnathos

Muraenidae

Broadnose worm eel

Myrophis platyrhynchus

Ophichthidae

Brown conger

Gymnothorax vicinus

Muraenidae

Brown Garden Eel

Heteroconger longissimus

Congridae

Brown moray

Gymnothorax unicolor

Muraenidae

Brown moray

Gymnothorax monochrous

Muraenidae

Brown moray

Uropterygius concolor

Muraenidae

Brown reef eel

Gymnothorax prasinus

Muraenidae

Brown snake moray

Uropterygius fuscoguttatus

Muraenidae

Brown speckled eel

Gymnothorax steindachneri

Muraenidae

Brownspotted moray

Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus

Muraenidae

Buitendijk's worm eel

Neenchelys buitendijki

Ophichthidae

Buro moray

Gymnothorax buroensis

Muraenidae

Burrowing snake eel

Pisodonophis cancrivorus

Ophichthidae

California moray

Gymnothorax mordax

Muraenidae

Californian conger

Paraconger californiensis

Congridae

Cape conger

Conger wilsoni

Congridae

Caribbean chestnut moray

Enchelycore carychroa

Muraenidae

Castle's moray

Gymnothorax castlei

Muraenidae

Catalina conger

Gnathophis cinctus

Congridae

Celebes longfin eel

Anguilla celebesensis

Anguillidae

Chain moray

Echidna catenata

Muraenidae

Charmed snake-eel

Ophichthus zophochir

Ophichthidae

Chestnut moray

Gymnothorax castaneus

Muraenidae

Chilean worm eel

Scolecenchelys chilensis

Ophichthidae

Chinese snake eel

Cirrhimuraena chinensis

Ophichthidae

Cliff's snake eel

Callechelys cliffi

Ophichthidae

Cloudy cuskeel

Xestochilus nebulosus

Ophichthidae

Collared eel

Kaupichthys nuchalis

Chlopsidae

Common conger-eel

Conger verreauxi

Congridae

Common eel

Anguilla anguilla

Anguillidae

Common false moray

Kaupichthys hyoproroides

Chlopsidae

Common hawaiian moray

Gymnothorax undulatus

Muraenidae

Common pike conger

Muraenesox bagio

Muraenesocidae

Common snake eel

Ophichthus remiger

Ophichthidae

Conehead eel

Cynoponticus coniceps

Muraenesocidae

Conger eel

Ariosoma anago

Congridae

Conger eel

Rhynchoconger flavus

Congridae

Conger eel

Conger triporiceps

Congridae

Conger eel

Paraconger caudilimbatus

Congridae

Coquette conger

Ariosoma coquettei

Congridae

Cortez garden eel

Heteroconger canabus

Congridae

Crocodile snake eel

Brachysomophis crocodilinus

Ophichthidae

Crossthroat sawpalate

Serrivomer jesperseni

Serrivomeridae

Culebra rosario

Myrichthys breviceps

Ophichthidae

Cunning moray

Uropterygius versutus

Muraenidae

Dark moray

Gymnothorax afer

Muraenidae

Dark spotted moray

Gymnothorax fimbriatus

Muraenidae

Dark-spotted snake eel

Myrichthys ocellatus

Ophichthidae

Deathbanded snake eel

Ophichthus frontalis

Ophichthidae

Deep-sea eel

Serrivomer sector

Serrivomeridae

Deepwater conger

Xenomystax atrarius

Congridae

Deepwater neck eel

Derichthys serpentinus

Derichthyidae

Ditch snake eel

Herpetoichthys fossatus

Ophichthidae

Dragon moray

Enchelycore pardalis

Muraenidae

Duckbill oceanic eel

Nessorhamphus ingolfianus

Derichthyidae

Dusky-banded moray

Gymnothorax reticularis

Muraenidae

Eel

Anguilla marmorata

Anguillidae

Enigma garden eel

Heteroconger enigmaticus

Congridae

Equatorial finless eel

Apterichtus equatorialis

Ophichthidae

Erabu snake eel

Ophichthus erabo

Ophichthidae

European conger

Conger conger

Congridae

European finless eel

Apterichtus caecus

Ophichthidae

False brown moray

Gymnothorax pseudoherrei

Muraenidae

Fangtooth moray

Enchelycore anatina

Muraenidae

Fangtooth snake eel

Aplatophis chauliodus

Ophichthidae

Fewpore conger

Conger oligoporus

Congridae

Fine-spotted moray

Echidna delicatula

Muraenidae

Finespotted moray

Gymnothorax dovii

Muraenidae

Finless snake eel

Ichthyapus ophioneus

Ophichthidae

Freckled moray

Echidna nocturna

Muraenidae

Freckled moray

Gymnothorax thyrsoideus

Muraenidae

Freckleface reef-eel

Uropterygius xanthopterus

Muraenidae

Freshwater moray

Gymnothorax tile

Muraenidae

Freshwater moray

Gymnothorax polyuranodon

Muraenidae

Freshwater snake-eel

Lamnostoma kampeni

Ophichthidae

Fringe-nosed conger-eel

Gnathophis umbrellabius

Congridae

Galzin's garden eel

Gorgasia galzini

Congridae

Garman's sawtooth eel

Serrivomer garmani

Serrivomeridae

Giant moray

Gymnothorax javanicus

Muraenidae

Gilbert's garden eel

Ariosoma gilberti

Congridae

Graham's conger

Gnathophis grahami

Congridae

Griffin's moray

Gymnothorax porphyreus

Muraenidae

Guayan pike-conger

Cynoponticus savanna

Muraenesocidae

Guiana conger

Paraconger guianensis

Congridae

Guinea moray eel

Gymnothorax meleagris

Muraenidae

Guinean conger

Paraconger notialis

Congridae

Guinean pike conger

Cynoponticus ferox

Muraenesocidae

Guinean snake eel

Callechelys guineensis

Ophichthidae

Hawaiian garden eel

Gorgasia hawaiiensis

Congridae

Headband conger

Diploconger polystigmatus

Congridae

Headspot moray

Gymnothorax cephalospilus

Muraenidae

Henshaw's snake eel

Phyllophichthus xenodontus

Ophichthidae

Herre's moray

Gymnothorax herrei

Muraenidae

Highfin moray

Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus

Muraenidae

Highlands longfin eel

Anguilla interioris

Anguillidae

Honeycomb moray

Gymnothorax favagineus

Muraenidae

Honeycomb moray

Muraena melanotis

Muraenidae

Honeycomb Moray

Gymnothorax saxicola

Muraenidae

Hourglass moray

Muraena clepsydra

Muraenidae

Indian mottled eel

Anguilla bengalensis

Anguillidae

Indo-Pacific slender worm-eel

Scolecenchelys gymnota

Ophichthidae

Indonesian shortfin eel

Anguilla malgumora

Anguillidae

Intermediate thrush-eel

Moringua ferruginea

Moringuidae

Japanese eel

Anguilla japonica

Anguillidae

Japanese garden eel

Gorgasia japonica

Congridae

Japanese shorttail conger

Coloconger japonicus

Colocongridae

Jewel moray

Muraena lentiginosa

Muraenidae

Johnston worm eel

Schultzidia johnstonensis

Ophichthidae

Kapala conger

Poeciloconger kapala

Congridae

Keoghfish

Ophichthus rex

Ophichthidae

Key worm eel

Ahlia egmontis

Ophichthidae

Kidako moray

Gymnothorax kidako

Muraenidae

Klausewitz's garden eel

Gorgasia klausewitzi

Congridae

Large-banded moray

Channomuraena vittata

Muraenidae

Large-eye conger

Ariosoma marginatum

Congridae

Largehead conger

Bathycongrus varidens

Congridae

Largehead moray

Uropterygius macrocephalus

Muraenidae

Largemouth conger

Congriscus megastomus

Congridae

Largetooth conger

Bathyuroconger vicinus

Congridae

Leaden worm eel

Myrophis plumbeus

Ophichthidae

Leopard eel

Gymnothorax flavimarginatus

Muraenidae

Leopard eel

Myrichthys pardalis

Ophichthidae

Lesser moray

Gymnothorax minor

Muraenidae

Lipped snake eel

Schismorhynchus labialis

Ophichthidae

Lipspot moray

Gymnothorax chilospilus

Muraenidae

Little conger eel

Gnathophis habenatus

Congridae

Little moray

Gymnothorax richardsonii

Muraenidae

Liver-colored moray eel

Gymnothorax hepaticus

Muraenidae

Longnose conger

Gnathophis nasutus

Congridae

Longnosed snake eel

Ophisurus macrorhynchos

Ophichthidae

Longtail conger

Uroconger lepturus

Congridae

Longtail snake eel

Ophichthus longipenis

Ophichthidae

Longtooth snake eel

Boehlkenchelys longidentata

Chlopsidae

Magnificent snake eel

Myrichthys magnificus

Ophichthidae

Manetail snake eel

Ophichthus urolophus

Ophichthidae

Marbled eel

Uropterygius marmoratus

Muraenidae

Marbled snake eel

Callechelys marmorata

Ophichthidae

Maree's moray

Gymnothorax mareei

Muraenidae

Margined snake eel

Ophichthus cruentifer

Ophichthidae

Masked moray

Gymnothorax panamensis

Muraenidae

Mauritanian shortface eel

Panturichthys mauritanicus

Heterenchelyidae

McCosker's moray

Gymnothorax mccoskeri

Muraenidae

Mediterranean moray

Muraena helena

Muraenidae

Moluccan moray

Gymnothorax moluccensis

Muraenidae

Moray eel

Muraena retifera

Muraenidae

Mosaic moray

Enchelycore lichenosa

Muraenidae

Mosaic moray

Enchelycore ramosa

Muraenidae

Mottled conger moray

Enchelycore nigricans

Muraenidae

Mottled snake-eel

Dalophis cephalopeltis

Ophichthidae

Nago moray

Uropterygius nagoensis

Muraenidae

Naked-finned worm-eel

Muraenichthys gymnopterus

Ophichthidae

Narrow worm eel

Scolecenchelys macroptera

Ophichthidae

Narrowfin snake eel

Cirrhimuraena tapeinoptera

Ophichthidae

Neglected moray

Gymnothorax neglectus

Muraenidae

Nutting's moray

Gymnothorax nuttingi

Muraenidae

Ocellate snake eel

Myrichthys maculosus

Ophichthidae

Onestripe eel

Aprognathodon platyventris

Ophichthidae

Oriental worm eel

Lamnostoma orientalis

Ophichthidae

Pacific mud eel

Pythonichthys asodes

Heterenchelyidae

Pacific shortfin eel

Anguilla obscura

Anguillidae

Pacific snake eel

Ophichthus triserialis

Ophichthidae

Pacific worm eel

Myrophis vafer

Ophichthidae

Painted eel

Echelus myrus

Ophichthidae

Palespot snake eel

Myrichthys aspetocheiros

Ophichthidae

Palespotted eel

Ophichthus puncticeps

Ophichthidae

Panama sand eel

Bascanichthys panamensis

Ophichthidae

Pearlbelly snake-eel

Scolecenchelys laticaudata

Ophichthidae

Peppered moray

Uropterygius polystictus

Muraenidae

Philippine shorttail conger

Chiloconger philippinensis

Congridae

Philippine worm eel

Muraenichthys philippinensis

Ophichthidae

Pinda moray

Gymnothorax pindae

Muraenidae

Pointed-nosed snake eel

Mystriophis rostellatus

Ophichthidae

Polygon moray

Gymnothorax polygonius

Muraenidae

Purplemouthed conger

Pseudophichthys splendens

Congridae

Red eel

Myroconger compressus

Myrocongridae

Red Sea garden eel

Gorgasia sillneri

Congridae

Redsaddled snake eel

Quassiremus nothochir

Ophichthidae

Reed snake eel

Cirrhimuraena calamus

Ophichthidae

Reeve's moray

Gymnothorax reevesii

Muraenidae

Reptilian snake eel

Brachysomophis umbonis

Ophichthidae

Reticulated moray

Gymnomuraena zebra

Muraenidae

Ribbon moray

Pseudechidna brummeri

Muraenidae

Ridged Eel

Neoconger mucronatus

Moringuidae

Ringed moray

Gymnothorax annulatus

Muraenidae

Robins' moray

Gymnothorax robinsi

Muraenidae

Rosenblatt's snake eel

Letharchus rosenblatti

Ophichthidae

Round sand-eel

Bascanichthys cylindricus

Ophichthidae

Rufus snake eel

Ophichthus rufus

Ophichthidae

Saddled moray

Gymnothorax conspersus

Muraenidae

Saddled snake eel

Pisodonophis semicinctus

Ophichthidae

Sailfin worm eel

Echelus uropterus

Ophichthidae

Sailfin worm eel

Letharchus velifer

Ophichthidae

Sand conger

Ariosoma anagoides

Congridae

Scheele's conger

Ariosoma scheelei

Congridae

Seagrass eel

Chilorhinus suensonii

Chlopsidae

Serpent eel

Ophisurus serpens

Ophichthidae

Seychelles moray

Anarchias seychellensis

Muraenidae

Sharpsnout snake eel

Apterichtus klazingai

Ophichthidae

no photo

Short worm eel

Moringua abbreviata

Moringuidae

Shortfin false moray

Kaupichthys brachychirus

Chlopsidae

Shortsnout conger

Chiloconger dentatus

Congridae

Shorttail conger

Rhynchoconger nitens

Congridae

Shorttail viper eel

Scytalichthys miurus

Ophichthidae

Shrimp eel

Ophichthus gomesii

Ophichthidae

Similar conger

Paraconger similis

Congridae

Slantlip eel

Caralophia loxochila

Ophichthidae

Slender finless snake eel

Apterichtus anguiformis

Ophichthidae

Slender giant moray

Strophidon sathete

Muraenidae

Slender pike conger

Oxyconger leptognathus

Muraenesocidae

Slender worm eel

Yirrkala tenuis

Ophichthidae

Slender-tail conger

Uroconger syringinus

Congridae

Slenderjaw moray

Enchelycore octaviana

Muraenidae

Slendertail moray

Gymnothorax gracilicauda

Muraenidae

Smalleyed spaghetti eel

Pythonichthys microphthalmus

Heterenchelyidae

Smallfin spaghetti eel

Moringua microchir

Moringuidae

Smallfin worm eel

Myrophis microchir

Ophichthidae

Smallfin worm eel

Pseudomyrophis micropinna

Ophichthidae

Smallgill conger

Bathyuroconger parvibranchialis

Congridae

Snapper Eel

Echiophis punctifer

Ophichthidae

Snowflake-patch moray

Gymnothorax niphostigmus

Muraenidae

Snyder's moray

Anarchias leucurus

Muraenidae

Sooty eel

Bascanichthys bascanium

Ophichthidae

Sooty eel

Bascanichthys scuticaris

Ophichthidae

Southern conger

Gnathophis capensis

Congridae

Spaghetti eel

Moringua edwardsi

Moringuidae

Speckled worm eel

Myrophis punctatus

Ophichthidae

Spottail moray

Gymnothorax equatorialis

Muraenidae

Spotted garden eel

Gorgasia punctata

Congridae

Spotted garden eel

Heteroconger hassi

Congridae

Spotted moray

Gymnothorax moringa

Muraenidae

Spotted moray

Gymnothorax isingteena

Muraenidae

Spotted snake eel

Ophichthus ophis

Ophichthidae

Spotted snake eel

Quassiremus polyclitellum

Ophichthidae

Spotted snake-eel

Myrichthys tigrinus

Ophichthidae

Spotted Spoon-nose Eel

Echiophis intertinctus

Ophichthidae

Starry moray

Gymnothorax nudivomer

Muraenidae

Stout moray

Muraena robusta

Muraenidae

Stout sawpalate

Serrivomer beanii

Serrivomeridae

Stripesnout false moray

Chlopsis apterus

Chlopsidae

Taiwan garden eel

Gorgasia taiwanensis

Congridae

Taylor's garden eel

Heteroconger taylori

Congridae

Thinlip conger

Gnathophis mystax

Congridae

Tidepool snake moray

Uropterygius micropterus

Muraenidae

Toothy conger

Bathycongrus odontostomus

Congridae

Twostripe snake eel

Callechelys bilinearis

Ophichthidae

Unevenjaw conger

Gnathophis heterognathos

Congridae

Verrill's moray

Gymnothorax verrilli

Muraenidae

Viper moray

Enchelynassa canina

Muraenidae

Vulture snake eel

Ichthyapus vulturis

Ophichthidae

Whip snake eel

Bascanichthys paulensis

Ophichthidae

White-banded moray eel

Echidna leucotaenia

Muraenidae

White-margined moray

Enchelycore schismatorhynchus

Muraenidae

Whitelip moray

Echidna rhodochilus

Muraenidae

Whitethroat moray

Gymnothorax phalarus

Muraenidae

Wormlike spaghetti eel

Neoconger vermiformis

Moringuidae

Wrinkled snake eel

Ophichthus rutidoderma

Ophichthidae

Yellow garden eel

Heteroconger luteolus

Congridae

Yellow pike conger

Congresox talabon

Muraenesocidae

Yellow-spotted moray

Echidna xanthospilos

Muraenidae

Yellowtail snake eel

Apterichtus flavicaudus

Ophichthidae

Zorro snake eel

Aplatophis zorro

Ophichthidae