What Divers Should Know About Ribbon Eel

Often, only the head and anterior body of the ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) are visible, protruding from crevices in sand and rubble habitats, particularly around coral reefs. Encounters are common in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, from East Africa to French Polynesia, frequently in Indonesian regions. These captivating eels prefer relatively shallow waters, typically found within a depth range of 1 to 57 meters. Recognizable by their long, thin bodies, high dorsal fins, and distinctively expanded anterior nostrils and wide-open jaws, they use a slime coat to slip through their sandy or rocky retreats.

Beyond their striking profile, ribbon eels are famed for dramatic color changes across their life stages and sexes. Juveniles and subadults display a jet black body with a vibrant yellow dorsal fin. As they mature, males transform into a brilliant blue with a yellow facial appearance, typically measuring 65 to 94 cm. Larger females become entirely yellow or exhibit yellow with some blue posteriorly, reaching up to 130 cm. This unique sexual dimorphism and color transformation, a rarity among moray eels, makes a sighting particularly memorable. Their highly elongated form, with up to 255 vertebrae, further distinguishes this species.