“We were lucky to see this one swimming freely.”

#shorts #eel #rare #scubadiving #maui
The snowflake eel (Echidna nebulosa), also known as the snowflake moray or clouded moray, is a strikingly patterned marine eel found in tropical Indo-Pacific reefs. Here are some cool facts about it:

Appearance:
• Named for its snowflake-like white and yellow blotches on a dark body.
• Grows up to about 2 to 3 feet (60–90 cm) in length.
• Has rounded, blunt teeth—unlike other morays—adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey.

Behavior:
• Mostly nocturnal, hiding in crevices during the day and hunting at night.
• Has a great sense of smell to find prey like crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans.
• Not aggressive, but will defend itself if provoked—though it’s not venomous.

Habitat:
• Found in shallow lagoons and reefs, from Hawaii to the Red Sea and down to Australia.
• Often seen with just its head poking out of rocks, mouth gaping open—this is normal breathing behavior.
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