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Text by Gerald R. Allen, Ph.D.
Photography by
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The bright-coloured Ribbon eel is aptly named. Although the head is roughly cylindrical, its body is thin and ribbon-like. Unlike most morays belonging to the same family, it lives in sandy burrows. It is usually seen protruding its head and up to about one-third of the body length outside the burrow. Aside from coloration and shape, the most distinguishing feature is the enormously expanded nostrils, which form a membranous scoop-like structure. If threatened, for example when closely approached by a diver, the eel swiftly retreats into its burrow, waiting several minutes before emerging.
Juveniles and small adults are mainly black with a yellow dorsal fin. Males become blue on the body and have a characteristic yellow snout. Adult females are entirely yellow except for white fin margins and a black anal fin. The species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region, ranging from East Africa to the Tuamotus and northwards to Japan. Maximum length is at least 130 cm.
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