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Definition of ribbon eel
ribbon eel
Plural:ribbon eels
• noun
1
A species of moray eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) native to the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific oceans, distinguished by its exceptionally long, thin body, flared leaf-like nostrils, and a lifecycle that involves drastic color changes from black to bright blue and finally to yellow.
Example
"During the dive off the coast of Indonesia, we were lucky enough to see a striking blue and yellow ribbon eel extending from its burrow in the sand."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for ribbon eel• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ribbon eel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ribbon%20eel