About Rhinomuraena quaesita Garman, 1888
The ribbon eel, scientifically named Rhinomuraena quaesita Garman, 1888, is also commonly called the leaf-nosed moray eel or bernis eel. It is a species of moray eel, and it is the only member of the genus Rhinomuraena. This eel occurs in sand burrows and reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. While it is generally classified in the moray eel family Muraenidae, its several distinctive features lead some sources to place it in its own separate family, Rhinomuraenidae.
Compared to other moray eels, ribbon eels prefer shallower water, and they most commonly inhabit depths between 1 and 57 meters. This species has a wide distribution. Divers often observe ribbon eels in Indonesian waters, where their heads and front sections of their bodies protrude from crevices in sand and rubble habitats such as coral reefs. Their slime coat allows them to slip easily through these crevices. Ribbon eels are typically found in tropical regions of the Indian and Pacific Ocean, with a range extending from East Africa to southern Japan, Australia, and French Polynesia.
