Honeycomb Eel

Honeycomb Eel (Gymnothorax favagineus)

The Honeycomb moray eel is indeed a fascinating marine creature with some distinctive features. Its coloration, with light whitish brown to yellowish hues and dark brown honeycomb-shaped spots, provides excellent camouflage among coral reefs and rocky crevices. This pattern not only aids in hiding from predators but also helps it ambush prey. The enlarged canine teeth at the front of the upper jaw are well-adapted for grasping and tearing flesh, which is essential for its diet of smaller fish and invertebrates. The additional row of backward-curving teeth on the upper palate further assists in holding onto and manipulating prey, preventing it from escaping. Without pectoral or pelvic fins, the Honeycomb moray eel relies on its dorsal fin, which extends along its entire length, for movement. This fin helps it to navigate through tight spaces and maintain stability as it moves through its reef habitat. Growing up to two meters in length, the Honeycomb moray eel is indeed among the larger moray eels, though it is outdone in size by the Giant moray eel, which has a more robust body at similar lengths.