Ribbon Eel

ocean creatures · moray eels · Indo-Pacific

Ribbon-like body. The ribbon eel has a long, thin, flat body that looks like a ribbon or ribbon candy, which is how it got its name. This shape helps it squeeze into sand burrows and squeeze through tight spaces on the reef.

Leaf-shaped nose. Unlike other moray eels, the ribbon eel has a special leaf-shaped nose called a leaf-nose, which is why it's also called the leaf-nosed moray eel. Scientists aren't totally sure what it uses this fancy nose for, but it might help sense food or water currents.

Bright colors. Ribbon eels come in striking colors like bright yellow, electric blue, and black. They're so colorful and different from other eels that some scientists think they deserve their own family instead of being grouped with regular moray eels.

Sand burrow homes. Ribbon eels love to hide in burrows dug in the sandy ocean floor, poking their heads out to look for food. They're shy creatures that spend most of their time tucked away in their homes in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Unique genus. The ribbon eel is the only member of its entire genus, Rhinomuraena, which means it's so special that scientists had to create a whole group just for this one eel species.