Moray eels look very fierce and quite aggressive. They have large heads and large eyes and open, tooth lined jaws. The open mouth is partly to give a good display of aggression but it also fulfils and important physiological function. Their respiratory system consists of gills that need a lot of fresh water to be passed over them to get enough oxygen to their bodies, and water gushing in through their mouths is the best way to achieve this.
The moray eel can be quite aggressive but its reputation as being a killer is not really deserved. It can bit people but it cannot bite people and hold them under water. It bites and lets go because it cannot hold on to a potential prey and breathe at the same time. It does not produce venom but the single bite it can give a person's leg or arm can go rapidly septic because its teeth carry rotting particles or its previous meals.
The moray eel can be quite aggressive but its reputation as being a killer is not really deserved. It can bit people but it cannot bite people and hold them under water. It bites and lets go because it cannot hold on to a potential prey and breathe at the same time. It does not produce venom but the single bite it can give a person's leg or arm can go rapidly septic because its teeth carry rotting particles or its previous meals.
