Dangerous Creatures: Moray Eel

(Shallow tropical and subtropical seas worldwide)

   Eels generally dine on small fish, molluscs and crustaceans. In some places, the eel itself may be on the menu.
   Deep in the dark water, these bizarre-looking eels, called gulper eels, use glowing lures and cavernous mouths to catch their prey.
   Moray eels come in colours and patterns. The ribbon eel, famed for its beauty, is a favourite of aquarium owners.
   The eel only bites if it’s threatened, or mistakes some part of a person for its usual food.
   If you’re diving in eels’ habitat, don’t stick your hand down that hole! A waiting eel may think it’s a fish.
   Video: Moray eels always have their mouths open – not for biting, but for breathing. Although occasionally one might challenge a diver, it’s usually the people who are disturbing the eels, not the other way around.
   Advice: If you’re ever unlucky enough to have a moray bite you, experts say you should grin and bear the pain. The eel will eventually let go and swim away. Then you can do the same.

   And that’s the end of this chain. In the program, Moray Eel leads to Stingray, which we’ve already covered.
   And now for the very last chain of all. It begins with a game called The Meeting Place, so tomorrow’s article follows on from that: All over the world, many animals share their environments with rats.