head on each side is a small opening through which the water passes during breathing.
Morays are rather "snakily-repulsive" in appearence and give rise to many accounts of encounters with "coral snakes." They can be distinguished readily from reptiles by their extremely slippery and scaleless skins, and the fleshy fins running along most of the back and tail.
Sharks are occasionally seen offshore, and swimmers have found several sting rays. One large creature reportedly at least five feet wide and considerably greater in its length was seen near the pier at Sorlen island during the spring of 1945. A few flounders have been found.
Our reefs contain many highly colored fishes with a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The trigger fish family, which contains some poisonous species, is to be found in this category. They are short, laterally depressed fishes appearing to have large heads and a single sharp spine arising where the dorsel fin normally is found. This spine may contain a highly toxic poison, so these fishes should be avoided. Another fish often appearing in shallow water is the puffer. It is a very sluggish fish, and has the ability to inflate itself and float belly-upward when disturbed. This habit may save it from being swallowed by other fish, Puffers have a parrot-like mouth surrounded by fleshy lips, and large eyes which bulge from their sockets.
Fishing parties have caught a variety of good food fishes. Mackeral, tuna, several members of the pompano family, and red bass were found. Flying fish also abound near Ulithi. In connection with food fish, it might be mentioned that great sea turtles occasionally visit the Ulithi sandpits to lay their eggs. They may be four feet long and weigh 300 to 400 pounds.
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