# What kind of eel is this? (Is it even a real animal?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 24, 2011, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547 "2011-04-24T11:03:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/1 "2011-04-24T11:03:15Z")
[This friendly chap.](http://i.imgur.com/JQLHr.jpg) See? He’s smiling. He _likes_ you. At least, I’m assuming it’s a real thing and not from some movie or something. It looks kinda freaky but not obviously impossible and, well, once you’ve internalized the fact the anglerfish is a real animal, you become much more willing to accept weirdness from the deep blue. If it is fake, it’d be interesting to find out where the image is from. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/2 "2011-04-24T11:27:27Z")
Well, I reckon it’s a moray eel that is either mutated, or is a very rare species. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/3 "2011-04-24T12:53:35Z")
I’m going to go with a green moray which has unusually short jaws, either through injury, disease or mutation. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/4 "2011-04-24T13:57:54Z")
When you dive in the sea and a thing looks quizzically that’s a moray ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/5 "2011-04-24T15:36:17Z")
I’d say it’s a real eel but photoshopped. The angle of the head to the body and the extreme verticality of the body after the bend just look wrong, and the head itself is all kinds of weird. There ARE short-snouted morays (there is (or was) one in the [Audubon Aquarium](http://www.flickr.com/photos/em-tango/5443250977/in/photostream) in New Orleans), but the combination of all the things I mentioned just screams “Photoshop!” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/6 "2011-04-24T16:06:48Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > When you dive in the sea > and a thing looks quizzically > that’s a moray _threatens **EvilTOJ** with a severe…something_ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/7 "2011-04-24T16:13:51Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > When you dive in the sea > and a thing looks quizzically > that’s a moray Diving in the sea, I see something quizzical. Must be a moray. There, I fixed it for you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/8 "2011-04-24T17:05:11Z")
_When a thing in the sea Looks at you quizzic’ly That’s a moray…_ ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/9 "2011-04-24T17:48:28Z")
Can I play, too? If it hides in a reef And it has lots of teeth That’s a moray … ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/10 "2011-04-24T18:47:15Z")
It’s [Cecil, the Seasick Sea Serpent](http://www.google.com/search?q=cecil+the+seasick+sea+serpent&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ErP&rls=Palemoon:en-US:unofficial&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yW-0TcLFCJSusAPQx9zmCw&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=638)! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/11 "2011-04-24T18:54:34Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’d say it’s a real eel but photoshopped. The angle of the head to the body and the extreme verticality of the body after the bend just look wrong, and the head itself is all kinds of weird. There ARE short-snouted morays (there is (or was) one in the [Audubon Aquarium](http://www.flickr.com/photos/em-tango/5443250977/in/photostream) in New Orleans), but the combination of all the things I mentioned just screams “Photoshop!” > [@DrFidelius](#): > > I’m going to go with a green moray which has unusually short jaws, either through injury, disease or mutation. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Well, I reckon it’s a moray eel that is either mutated, or is a very rare species. OK, all that makes sense. I didn’t get it from a place known for rigorous checking as to image origin or veracity ([Reddit - The heart of the internet](http://www.reddit.com/r/creepy)), so Photoshop is a distinct possibility, but something else could be plausible as well. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/12 "2011-04-24T19:33:21Z")
When it writhes on a pole, It’s not Dover sole, It’s a moray… ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/13 "2011-04-24T20:02:57Z")
It really is a moray eel. I’ve seen that picture before, the eel looks weird because the face is viewed at almost completely head on. It’s bent at about a third of the way up it’s body and is facing the camera head on. The black dent is a … OK I don’t know what it is. [Here’s](http://www.reefseekers.com/PIXPAGES/Socal%20%28general%29/Moray_eel.jpg) another angle of a moray. And another who’s [SO HAPPY](http://www.underwater-photos.com/pw006.html) to see you! when you look down the maws and you see pharyngeal jaws that’s a moray ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/14 "2011-04-24T20:13:59Z")
\*What kind of eel am I Who’s peering out at you? It seems that I’m not recognised From this point of view What kind of fish is this? A moray eel? A sea serpent that which My kind you cannot tell?\* ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/15 "2011-04-24T21:02:12Z")
I wonder if EvilTOJ may have pegged it. While it is odd looking, I’m thinking it’s just foreshortened by having the camera directly in front of the eel. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/16 "2011-04-24T21:05:04Z")
He definitely did. Foreshortening. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/17 "2011-04-24T22:59:34Z")
My guess is its an aquarium with curved glass, distorting the moray image. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/18 "2011-04-24T23:21:32Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’d say it’s a real eel but photoshopped. The angle of the head to the body and the extreme verticality of the body after the bend just look wrong, and the head itself is all kinds of weird. There ARE short-snouted morays (there is (or was) one in the [Audubon Aquarium](http://www.flickr.com/photos/em-tango/5443250977/in/photostream) in New Orleans), but the combination of all the things I mentioned just screams “Photoshop!” Are you sure it was screaming? Maybe it was shrieking. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/19 "2011-04-25T00:33:58Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > …And another who’s [SO HAPPY](http://www.underwater-photos.com/pw006.html) to see you! > when you look down the maws > and you see pharyngeal jaws > that’s a moray That second one looks like it wants to sell you a car. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547/20 "2011-04-25T00:34:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > \*What kind of eel am I > Who’s peering out at you? > It seems that I’m not recognised > From this point of view > > What kind of fish is this? > A moray eel? > A sea serpent that which > My kind you cannot tell?\* No fair, new verse pattern. Plus no love by Deano. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-eel-is-this-is-it-even-a-real-animal/579547.md?page=2)