Muraena
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[Photo] Mediterranean moray, Muraena helena (Croatia). Author fr:Elapied

Muraena is a genus of eleven species of large eels in the family Muraenidae.

This genus is common in the Mediterranean, and highly esteemed by the ancient Romans. It is abundantly represented in tropical and subtropical seas, especially in rocky parts or on coral reefs. In the majority, a long fin runs from the head along the back, round the tail to the vent, but all are destitute of pectoral and ventral fins. The skin is scaleless and smooth, in many species ornamented with varied and bright colours, so that these fishes are frequently mistaken for snakes.

The mouth is wide, the jaws strong and armed with formidable, generally sharply pointed, teeth, which enable the Muraena not only to seize its prey (which chiefly consists of other fishes) but also to inflict serious, and sometimes dangerous, wounds on its enemies. It attacks persons who approach its places of concealment in shallow water, and is feared by fishermen. At least one species, Muraena retifera, possesses an additional "raptorial pharyngeal jaw" within the pharynx, which is mobile and can be thrust forwards quickly to assist in grasping prey.

Some of the tropical Muraenas exceed a length of 10 feet (3 m), but most of the species, among them the Mediterranean moray, attain to only half that length. The latter, the "morena" of the Italians and the Muraena helena of ichthyologists, was considered by the ancient Romans to be one of the greatest delicacies, and was kept in large ponds and aquaria. It is not confined to the coasts of southern Europe, but is spread over the Indian Ocean, and is not uncommon on the coasts of Australia. Its body is generally of a rich brown, marked with large yellowish spots, each of which contains smaller brown spots.

Species
Muraena appendiculata Guichenot, 1848.
White-spotted moray, Muraena argus (Steindachner, 1870).
Muraena australiae Richardson, 1848.
Hourglass moray, Muraena clepsydra Gilbert, 1898.
Mediterranean moray, Muraena helena Linnaeus, 1758.
Muraena insularum Jordan & Davis, 1891.
Jewel moray, Muraena lentiginosa Jenyns, 1842.
Honeycomb moray, Muraena melanotis (Kaup, 1860).
Whitespot moray, Muraena pavonina Richardson, 1845.
Reticulate moray, Muraena retifera Goode & Bean, 1882.
Stout moray, Muraena robusta Os??rio, 1911.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muraena

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