Giant moray

Photo: Tsu Soo Tan · CC BY-NC

The largest moray eel species, reaching up to 3 metres and 30 kg, giant morays are apex predators of the reef crevice environment. They hunt cooperatively with roving grouper, a rare example of inter-species coordination in fish: the grouper signals the location of hidden prey with a headstand display, and the moray pursues it into gaps the grouper cannot enter. Their fearsome appearance belies a generally non-aggressive temperament toward divers unless provoked.