Tiger Snake Moray: Tiger-Spotted and Snake-Like

The tiger snake moray is an unusual eel — thick, rounded, and covered in tiger-like brown blotches, with tiny eyes and a habit of burrowing into sand and rubble. Finding one is a real treat for sharp-eyed snorkelers. Here's how to spot one near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

Tiger Snake Moray · Scuticaria tigrina

How to spot the tiger snake moray near Jacó

Look along rubble and sandy patches at the base of the reef for a stout, cylindrical eel marked with large brown tiger-blotches, often with just its head and part of its body exposed. The tiger snake moray's rounded body and small eyes give it an almost snake-like look as it threads through the bottom.

5 fun facts about the tiger snake moray

• Dressed like a tiger. Big brown blotches over a pale body give it a tiger-striped look and its name.
• A burrowing eel. Unlike crevice-dwelling morays, it often tunnels into sand and rubble, pushing through the bottom like a snake.
• Tiny eyes, big nose. Its eyes are very small, so it relies almost entirely on smell to find prey in the dark spaces it favors.
• A rounded, rope-like body. Its nearly cylindrical shape and reduced fins make it look more like a sea snake than a typical flattened moray.
• A secretive find. Shy and burrow-loving, it's one of the harder eels to spot — so a sighting is always a reward for patient looking.

The tiger snake moray is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.