What Divers Should Know About Green Moray Eel

Throughout the western Atlantic, divers often encounter the impressive Green Moray Eel, Gymnothorax funebris. This formidable resident can reach lengths of up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), making it the largest moray species in the tropical Atlantic, inhabiting depths down to 40 meters (130 feet). Its distinctive green hue isn't from skin pigment; rather, it's a protective layer of specialized mucus covering a darker body.

While juveniles frequent mangrove estuaries, mature individuals are commonly sighted tucked into crevices on offshore reefs and within rocky submarine canyons, ranging from Long Island, New York, down to Brazil. These eels are primarily nocturnal, so during daylight hours, you'll often spot them peeking from their preferred lair, awaiting nightfall to actively hunt. They are known for preying on fish and crabs, sometimes even cooperating with other species like Brazilian snapper during foraging.