Transparent Eel Larvae

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/492018328015172202/

Today, Steemians, I take you beneath the ocean waters to explore an extraordinary and rare sighting - the Transparent Eel Larvae. More specifically, the Muraenid Leptocephali. Interestingly, these larvae will metamorphose into what we know as a moray eel. Although there some suggest that due to distinctive features it should really be declared separate family of eel.

The organs are so small that they are not visible apart from the gut (along the middle part of the floppy gel like body). In this larval stage the eel's gel-likebody is made up of glucosaminoglycan (GAG) compounds which are transformed into the eel's organs and body at maturity. They do not have red blood cells, their production only begins when they are a glass juvenile eel.

They feed on marine snow - which are minute free floating particles in the ocean. The larval stage in this species can last between 3 months to one year.

They are found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean spanning the coast of East Africa to Southern Japan, Australia and French Polynesia. They have also been seen in the waters of Indonesia.

This really blows your mind! It did mine! Totally amazing!

Watch a video of this transparent eel larvae here...