Zebra Moray: Bold Stripes, Gentle Nature

The zebra moray is unmistakable — a dark eel wrapped in dozens of narrow pale stripes, like a living barber pole. It's one of the gentler morays, built to crush shellfish rather than chase fish. Here's how to spot one snorkeling near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

Zebra Moray · Gymnomuraena zebra

How to spot the zebra moray near Jacó

Look into reef crevices and under ledges for an eel banded with many close-set cream-and-brown stripes. The zebra moray usually tucks its body away with just its striped head showing. Its tight, numerous bands set it apart from every other eel on the reef.

5 fun facts about the zebra moray

• Dozens of stripes. Its body is ringed with many narrow pale bands on a dark background — a far busier pattern than any other local moray.
• Built to crush, not bite. Instead of sharp fangs it has flat, pebble-like teeth, perfect for crunching crabs, urchins, and snails.
• One of the calmer eels. With its shell-crushing diet and mild manner, the zebra moray is considered among the most docile morays — though still a watch-don't-touch animal.
• A nighttime forager. It spends the day hidden and emerges at night to hunt hard-shelled prey along the reef.
• A wide-ranging eel. The zebra moray lives across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the Eastern Pacific waters off our coast.

The zebra 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.