Chain Moray in Cozumel
Chain Moray (*Echidna catenata*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it is reliably seen, and what it is commonly confused with.
Bold yellow chain-link markings over dark brown, and a short blunt jaw with rounded crushing teeth rather than the fangs of a fish-eating moray.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Echidna catenata |
|---|---|
| Group | Eels |
| Typical size | 40–70 cm |
| Depth range | 1–12 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Very shallow rubble and rocky shoreline — Playa Corona, Molas Shallow Reef and the Chankanaab shallows.
Reliable sites: Playa Corona, Molas Shallow Reef, Chankanaab Reef.
Behaviour
Specialises in crabs, which is why the teeth are blunt. Unusually, it will leave the water briefly to take prey in the intertidal zone.
Commonly Confused With
- Goldentail moray — Fine gold net pattern, not bold chain links, and a longer jaw.
- Spotted moray — Fine dark speckle on cream.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Hands out of holes. This is a shallow-water species, so it matters as much to snorkellers as to divers.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
