Moray eels, or Muraenidae, are a family of eels whose members are found worldwide. There are approximately 200 species in 15 genera which are almost exclusively marine, but several species are regularly seen in brackish water, and a few are found in fresh water.
Gymnothorax is a genus of fish in the family Muraenidae found in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. With more than 120 species, it the most speciose genus of moray eels.
Uropterygius is a genus of moray eels in the family Muraenidae.
Leptocephalus is a genus that was used for species of larval eels, called leptocephali. Leptocephali larvae differ so much in appearance from their adults. When first discovered, leptocephali were thought to be a distinct type of fish, not an eel specie. Because of this, the genus designation of Leptocephalus was used for a while for an unidentified leptocephali. After it was known that these were eel larvae, it was identified to be part of a wastebasket taxon, but not anymore in the present classification system. Examples of marine congrid larvae, found in the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea that were named this way are listed below. Only two species in two families are currently treated as having any validity, though the validity of L. bellottii is strongly in doubt.
The Kidako moray is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae. It inhabits coral reefs or lagoons and could be found in tropical and subtropical seas near Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. The species is diurnal, which means it is more active in the daytime than the nighttime. It is also piscivorous: it consumes fish, octopus, and squid. Other than the Kidako moray, there are about 200 species of moray eels in the Muraenidae family. The Kidako moray doesn't attack humans unless they are provoked. However, due to the menacing looks of the Kidako moray and moray eels in general, they are feared by divers and snorkelers.
The zebra moray is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae. It is the only member of the genus Gymnomuraena, though it sometimes has been included in Echidna instead.
The green moray is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Long Island, New York, Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, at depths down to 40 metres (130 ft). Its length is up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft). It is the largest moray species of the tropical Atlantic and one of the largest species of moray eel known. Though it is not considered endangered, the species is particularly under-studied and estimated to be undercounted by up to 400% in single-pass visual surveys.
The snowflake moray, also known as the clouded moray among many vernacular names, is a species of marine eel of the family Muraenidae. It has blunt teeth ideal for its diet of crustaceans, a trait it shares with the zebra moray.
The giant moray is a species of moray eel and a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae. In terms of body mass, it is the largest moray eel; however, the slender giant moray is the largest in terms of body length.
The panamic green moray eel is a large moray eel in the Pacific. Common names also include chestnut moray eel.
Anarchias cantonensis is a moray eel commonly known as the Canton Island moray or the Canton moray. It was first named by Schultz in 1943 and is found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Anarchias leucurus is a moray eel found in the Pacific Ocean. It was first named by Snyder in 1904 as Uropterygius leucurus, and is commonly known as Snyder's moray, the fine-spotted moray or the finespot moray. It is thought to be the smallest species of moray, and may actually represent several different species or subspecies.
Anarchias similis is a moray eel found in coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. It was first named by Lea in 1913, and is commonly known as the pygmy moray, but is not to be confused with the Pacific species of the same name, Gymnothorax robinsi. It ranges in color and patterning from dark brown all over to blotched.
Scuticaria okinawae is a moray eel found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is commonly known as the shorttailed snake moray, shorttail moray, Seale's moray eel, or the Bennett's moray.
Apterichtus is a genus of fish in the family Ophichthidae. Many of its species are called finless eels.
Uropterygiinae is a subfamily of moray eels.
The Flores mud moray is an eel in the family Muraenidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and John Ernest Randall in 2008. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from Indonesia, in the western Pacific Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth range of 3–4 m. Males can reach a maximum total length of 29.9 cm.
Anarchias exulatus is an eel in the family Muraenidae. It was described by Joshua S. Reece, David G. Smith, and Erling Holm in 2010. It is a subtropical, marine eel which is known from the Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll, Rapa, Gambier, Pitcairn Island, and the Tonga Islands. It is an uncommon species which dwells in coral reefs and rocky regions near shores, and has been reported at a depth of 12 metres. Males are known to reach a maximum total length of 29.3 centimetres.
Anarchias schultzi is an eel in the family Muraenidae. It was described by Joshua S. Reece, David G. Smith, and Erling Holm in 2010. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the western Pacific Ocean, including the Caroline Islands, the Solomon Islands New Caledonia, and the Tonga Islands. It is an uncommon species which dwells at a depth range of 8–14 metres, in coral reefs and rocky regions near shores. Males are known to reach a maximum total length of 15.9 centimetres.
Anarchias supremus is an eel in the family Muraenidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and Andrew L. Stewart in 2006. It is a subtropical, marine eel which is known from Macauley Island on the Kermadec Ridge in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Males are known to reach a maximum total length of 19.1 centimetres.
