Giant Moray

Photo: saraptor · CC BY-NC

Giant morays are among the most formidable predators on Indian Ocean reef walls, using deep overhangs and crevices as daytime lairs from which they launch explosive ambushes on passing fish. Their muscular bodies can reach 3 metres and their powerful jaws, equipped with both a primary jaw and a secondary pharyngeal jaw, allow them to restrain and swallow large prey that would escape most predators. At Sitapur Wall they are often observed in cleaning station interactions with cleaner shrimp that pick parasites from inside their open mouths.