In ancient days, people believed fish were a source of food. And some eerie and ubiquitous species, such as eels and other ‘strange’ fish of extreme sizes, were considered bizarre and a bad omen or a prosthetic sign. Some fish, such as sharks, eels, whales, stonefish, and fish with sharp, irregular teeth and varied colors, were considered in this category.
In marine life, eels may be scary and strange. But one of the most fascinating species that I have encountered is eels, especially moray eels. About 40 species of moray have been recorded in the Maldives. Moray eels, spaghetti eels, honeycomb moray eels, ribbon eels, and white mouth moray eels can be seen in the Maldives.
Mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and with a large head, moray eels are one of the most fascinating marine species one can observe. These carnivores can grow up to a weight of 30 kg. They use their powerful muscular body to overcome the prey and tear flesh off fish, squid, cuttlefish, and octopus. They have blunt teeth to crush crustaceans. Wrasse and shrimp are “free visa holders” without tax who approach and stay at the cervice of the eels. They clean the teeth and remove parasites and food particles in the gills and mouth of the eel.
It is interesting to note that Romans selected eels. Roman aristocracy kept eels in some of their ponds to maintain a fresh supply of fresh fish and eels (Hill, 2023). It was a similar belief, considering some terrestrial species like crows, eagles, and owls as signs of bad omen. But many birds were tamed and kept as pets. Herons were kept at Maldivian households to guard against intruders. Some fish were kept in fresh water wells or ponds. Silvery fish (bang) and barred flaglai (kattafulhi) were kept as they survive in both salt water and fresh water.
My father (people call him Saliheybey) was a skilled spearfisher. Hussainbeybe, my father’s best friend, told us that while they spearfish in the herahafarogano (reef front area) area of Fuvahmulah, my father encountered a giant moray eel in a cave. “Saliheybey fed the big eel with small fish that he caught. It was very tame. As Saliheybe approached near the crevices, the eel came out of its shelter and waited for the gifted prey,” Hussainbe explained about the tame eel. Small fishes were pinched at the tip of the iron rod that was used as a spear and moved towards the mouth of the eel. Without hesitation, the eel grabbed the fish. Every day the eel was fed with fish, and it was a close friend of my father.
When the eel’s mouth is open, it gives a threatening look, but they are actually breathing. These slender, toothy creatures captivate divers and snorkelers. These elusive snake-like creatures are everywhere in the Maldives. This slithery fish is an integral part of our ecosystem. They are shy and have fascinated human beings for centuries.
