In 2025, an underwater photographer shared a glimpse of a free-swimming ribbon eel in Mauritius.
“Meet the mesmerising ribbon eel, gracefully gliding through the turquoise waters of Mauritius like a living ribbon!” said underwater photographer Ian Haggerty on Instagram.
In the footage, the bright blue and yellow fish can be seen undulating through the water. "Found in Indo-Pacific reefs, they’re masters of slithering through the ocean like a silk scarf,” he said. “This vibrant beauty, filmed free-swimming outside its burrow, showcases its stunning blue and yellow hues, flowing with elegance.”
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Haggerty was surprised to spot the elegant creature while he was diving with scuba centre Ocean Spirit in Mauritius because these animals can be very shy and often spend lots of time hiding in their burrows. Seeing one free-swimming was “a rare treat,” he said.
“Fun fact,” Haggerty added: “They can change from male to female as they age!”
Image and video credit: Ian Haggerty RSA, diving with Ocean Spirit in Mauritius
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