This large size leptocephalus is believed to be a species of Muraenidae (moray eels), and probably the larva of a long thin ribbon eel, which is metamorphosing, not feeding, and is entering shallow water to finish it’s metamorphosis into a young eel. (Larva identified by Michael J. Miller) Leptocephali are the unusual transparent larvae of eels and their close relatives. Because they are transparent they are so hard to spot and are hardly ever sighted. Filmed by Barry Haythorne and Rob Rutgers, HRF U/W Production.

You cannot copy content of this page