Moray Eels Attack in Coastal Nayarit
Tara A. Spears
Recently, just north of Chacala, beachgoers at Platanitos, Nayarit, suffered some nasty bites by moray eels. About 15 people were bitten by the fish. While eels are not venomous, their mouths are full of bacteria and bites can get easily infected. There have previously been sightings by snorkelers in the rocky, northern part of Jaltemba Bay.
Moray eels are found worldwide in both deep and shallow waters, but tend to prefer warmer temperatures. The moray eel is an ambush predator, spending a considerable amount of time hidden in caves, rock crevices, or coral reefs. When a prey animal passes by, it pounces on it. Depending on the prey type, the eel might wrap itself around it, and crush the victim until it is small enough to be swallowed, or it might tear pieces from the body and eat t
he prey bite-by-bite.
Although moray eels have large eyes, it is believed they do not see well; rather, they locate their prey using a very good sense of smell, and by feeling vibrations in the water around them. Moray eels often appear very menacing, as they almost constantly gape their mouths showing their teeth. However, this gaping is necessary to allow water to be pumped into the oral cavity, and then over the gills. Some moray eels are territorial. For example, the giant moray can have a territory that extends over several miles.
Eel aggression can vary from passive, docile species to very aggressive predators and sizes can range from around a foot to up to six feet in some species. Eels will get more aggressive around feeding time or when they smell food in the water.
Armando Rubio, an environmental educator based in Puerto Vallarta, explains that bathers should be careful when entering the sea because it is the habitat of many species including those that have defensive reactions to the detriment of swimmers.
“Due to its long slender body and the manner in which the eel swims, many people initially think it is a sea serpent. The snake (Hydrophis platurus) does inhabit the beach along the entire Pacific slope including all of Nayarit and Jalisco coasts. But if a person bitten by the sea snake, they would not be telling it. The venom of the sea snake is very poisonous: they have neurotoxic venom that is very similar to a cobra’s.”
According to local emergency medical technician/bombero Jose Meza Uribe, there have been no sightings of moray eels by Jaltemba Bay beach goers nor have the Guayabitos EMTs treated an eel bite in 2019. “If a swimmer is bitten, he/she should immediately exit the water and telephone 911 for assistance.” Senor Meza pointed out that the Jaltemba Bay bathers were more likely to get jellyfish stings-yes, painful- but not a serious potential medical issue such as an eel bite. However, farther out from the shore, area fishermen have seen moray eels. Just remember, there are not fence in the ocean so if fishermen see eel 60 meters out doesn’t mean the critter can’t swim to the 5 meter area where you are bobbing in the water PDQ.
Enjoy the pleasure of swimming in beautiful blue ocean water; just notice if something is swimming near you. If a red flag is posted, don’t go in the water!