Brown Moray Eel

Gymnothorax unicolor

The brown moray eel (Gymnothorax unicolor) is a large moray species found in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Adults reach 80-100 cm in length and display a uniformly dark chocolate-brown to reddish-brown body without distinctive markings, which distinguishes it from the more mottled Mediterranean moray. They inhabit rocky reefs, caves, and boulder fields at depths of 5-100 meters, spending the day sheltered in crevices with their head protruding. They are nocturnal predators feeding on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. They are frequently seen with cleaner shrimp attending to them, an interaction that allows close observation. Their powerful jaws with rows of sharp teeth give them a formidable appearance, though they are typically non-aggressive toward divers. They are commonly encountered on dives around the Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, and throughout the Mediterranean, where they are often the largest predatory fish visible on the reef.