Ribbon eel

Rhinomuraena quaesita

The ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) or Bernis eel, is a species of moray eel, the only member of the genus Rhinomuraena. The ribbon eel is found in lagoons and reefs in the Indo-Pacific ocean, ranging from East Africa to southern Japan, Australia and French Polynesia.
Couple in the making A pair of Ribbon Eels - Rhinomuraena quaesita. They have 3 phases : - black/yellow during juvenile phase - blue/yellow during male phase - fully yellow during female phase The picture shows a slightly bigger male slowly changing to female phase, with yellow colouration on the body. Eel,Fish,Mabul,Malaysia,Moray Eel,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon Eel,Sabah

Appearance

The ribbon eel is an elegant creature bearing a resemblance to a mythical Chinese dragon with a long, thin body and high dorsal fins. The ribbon eel can easily be recognised by its expanded anterior nostrils. Based on observed colour changes, it is generally considered a protandric hermaphrodite (first male, then changing sex to female), although this has yet to be confirmed. Colour change related to sex change is not known from any other moray eel species. The presumed juveniles and subadults are jet black with a yellow dorsal fin, in adult males the black is replaced by blue, and adult females are entirely yellow or yellow with some blue to the posterior. The blue adult males range from 65 to 94 cm (26 to 37 in) in length, while the larger yellow females can reach up to 130 cm (51 in). In captivity, the colour differences are not related to maturity or sex.
Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita)- Male Serena Pata, Lembeh. Here a few interesting facts for this nice eel: The ribbon eel is the only moray eel that is protandric, which means that they can change from a male to female (protandry) should it become necessary for survival of the species in their area. All ribbon eels are born male. Juveniles and sub-adults are jet black with a yellow dorsal fin. The adult males are blue with a yellow dorsal fin. As the adult male reaches full size (approximately 1 metre), it begins to turn into a female, and turns yellow. It will then mate, lay eggs, and die within about a month. Due to this short lifespan, female ribbon eels are a relatively rare sight. Reference: http://www.indigoscuba.com/15-amazing-facts-about-ribbon-eels/ https://www.jungledragon.com/image/68770/rhinomuraena_quaesita-male.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/68772/ribbon_eel_rhinomuraena_quaesita-_male.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/68773/ribbon_eel_rhinomuraena_quaesita-_male.html Geotagged,Indonesia,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon eel,Spring

Naming

What is now known as R. quaesita also includes the former R. amboinensis. R. quaesita was used for blue ribbon eels and R. amboinensis for black ribbon eels, but these are now recognized as the same species.
Ribbon Eel - Rhinomuraena quaesita Bali,Blue Riboon Eel,Eel,Geotagged,Indonesia,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon eel

Distribution

Rhinomuraena quaesita is distributed from East Africa to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, and south to northwest and east coast Australia and New Caledonia.
Native:
American Samoa (American Samoa); Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia); Christmas Island; Cook Islands; French Polynesia; Guam; Indonesia; Japan; Maldives; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; New Caledonia; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Réunion; Samoa; Seychelles; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Tonga
Ribbon Eel - Rhinomuraena quaesita Nudi Falls, Lembeh Geotagged,Indonesia,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon eel,Spring

Status

Although captured for the aquarium industry, it remains common and widespread, and is not considered threatened.
Ribbon Eel - Female Yellow form This is the female/yellow form of Ribbon Eel - Rhinomuraena quaesita. They are seldom seen unlike the Black form or Juveniles and Blue form of Males. Interesting facts about Ribbon Eels : All ribbon eels start off as male and are black with a yellow dorsal fin. As they mature, the male eels turn mostly bright blue with yellow accents around the mouth and on the dorsal fin. The changes don’t stop there. After the male’s body reaches a certain length, it begins to turn yellow and will develop female parts until it is able to lay eggs. You read that right: they’re (sequential) hermaphrodites. Geotagged,Philippines,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon eel,Summer

Behavior

This species tends to be site attached; individuals have been known to stay in the same hole for months or even years. Juveniles are found individually, but it is not uncommon to find more than one male in the same area. In some cases, males will even share the same hole within the sandy substrate. During the day, individuals feed on small fishes that pass close to the burrow entrance.
Rhinomuraena quaesita-Male Serena Pata, Lembeh. Geotagged,Indonesia,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon eel,Spring

Habitat

Rhinomuraena quaesita can be found in lagoons and on coastal reef slopes. Although sometimes observed living in holes in the hard reef substrate, it is most commonly seen in sand or mud, or among coral rubble, sometimes with only its head protruding.
Ribbon eel - Rhinomuraena quaesita (juvenile) Fall,Geotagged,Indonesia,Rhinomuraena quaesita,Ribbon eel

Evolution

This species is a protandrous hermaphrodite, i.e., all females are derived from males that have changed sex.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/155301/0
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderAnguilliformes
FamilyMuraenidae
GenusRhinomuraena
SpeciesRhinomuraena quaesita
Photographed in
Indonesia
Maldives
Malaysia
Philippines