Like an Eel out of Water | Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Shane Gross’s Image

Shane Gross (Canada) witnesses a peppered moray eel very much in its element hunting for carrion at low tide.

It took Shane many attempts over several weeks to document this rarely photographed behaviour.

At first the eels were elusive. Once Shane realised that they were scavenging for dead fish, he waited.

His patience was soon rewarded when these three eels appeared.

Peppered moray eels are well adapted to the intertidal zone, which is underwater during high tide and exposed during low tide.

They hunt both above and below the water’s surface using their keen senses of smell and sight. They can stay out of water for more than 30 seconds.