Fimbriated moray

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Fimbriated moray
Gymnothorax fimbriatus.JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gymnothorax
Species:
G. fimbriatus
Binomial name
Gymnothorax fimbriatus

The fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus), also known as dark-spotted moray or spot-face moray, is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae.

Contents

Description

Gymnothorax fimbriatus is a medium-sized moray which can reach a maximum length of 80 centimetres (31 in). [2] Its serpentine in shape body has a white cream to light brown background color dotted with numerous black spots which latter vary in size and shape depending on the individual and maturity. Its head has a tapered snout and it is greenish-yellow with black dots, the corners of the mouth are white.

Distribution and habitat

The spot-face moray is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area, mainly on the coastal reefs of oceanic islands from Madagascar to Polynesia and from south Japan to New Caledonia. [3] [4] [5]

It lives in protected areas on the outer slopes of coral reefs, top reefs, lagoons and harbors. During the day, it sits sheltered in crevices between 1 and 50 metres (3–164 ft) deep. [6]

Biology

The fimbriated moray is carnivorous, it leaves its lair at night to actively hunt its preys along the reef. It feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans.

Related Research Articles

Moray eel Family of fishes

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.

Laced moray Species of fish

The laced moray, also known as the leopard moray, leopard moray eel, tessellate moray or honeycomb moray, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

<i>Gymnothorax</i> Genus of fishes

Gymnothorax is a genus of fish in the family Muraenidae found in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. With more than 120 species, it the most speciose genus of moray eels.

Kidako moray Species of fish

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 would not 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.

Zebra moray Species of fish

The zebra moray, Gymnomuraena zebra, 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.

Yellow-edged moray Species of fish

The yellow-edged moray, also known as yellow-margin(ed) moray, leopard moray, and speckled moray, is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the Indo-Pacific Oceans at depths to 150 m (500 ft).

Abbotts moray eel Species of fish

Abbott's moray eel, also known as the stout moray, is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the Indo-Pacific, antitropical in distribution. It is found in the eastern Pacific from Costa Rica to Easter Island, at depths to 40 m. Its length is up to 60 cm. Abbott's moray eel is a shallow-water, inshore reef species, though not often seen. They are voracious nocturnal carnivores feeding mostly on reef fishes.

Geometric moray Species of fish

The geometric moray is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae found throughout the western Indian Ocean at depths to 40 m. Its length is up to 65 cm.

Turkey moray Species of fish

The turkey moray ,also known as the guineafowl moray or as the white-mouth/whitemouth moray is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Giant moray Species of fish

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.

<i>Gymnothorax miliaris</i> Species of fish

Gymnothorax miliaris, the goldentail moray, bastard eel, or conger moray, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

<i>Gymnothorax nudivomer</i> Species of fish

Gymnothorax nudivomer, the starry moray or yellowmouth moray, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Panamic green moray eel Species of fish

The panamic green moray eel is a large moray eel in the Pacific. Common names also include chestnut moray eel.

Whitemargin moray eel Species of fish

The whitemargin moray or the white-edged moray, Gymnothorax albimarginatus, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Blackcheek moray eel Species of fish

The blackcheek moray eel or masked moray is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

<i>Gymnothorax rueppelliae</i> Species of fish

Gymnothorax rueppelliae, the banded moray, banded reef-eel, Rüppell's moray, Rüppell's moray eel, black barred eel, yellow-headed moray eel or yellow-headed moray, is a moray eel found in tropical coral reefs. Gymnothorax rueppelliae is a pale grey to greyish-brown moray with 16-21 dark bars on the body, a bright yellow head and a dark spot at the corner of the mouth. They differ from the Gymnothorax pikei, a close relative that lives Papua New Guinea. They have fewer vomerine teeth. They also reach a maximum length of 80 cm.

Greyface moray eel Species of fish

The greyface moray eel, also called the freckled moray, slender moray, or white-eyed moray, Gymnothorax thyrsoideus, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Barred-fin moray Species of fish

The barred-fin moray or bar-tail moray is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Gymnothorax hansi is an eel in the family Muraenidae. It was described by Phillip C. Heemstra in 2004. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from reefs around Grand Comoro Island, in the Indian Ocean. It is known to dwell at a maximum depth of 143 m (469 ft).

The Shao's moray is an eel in the family Muraenidae. It is a marine, temperate-water eel known from Taiwan, in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Males are known to reach a maximum total length of 60.8 cm.

References

  1. Smith, D.G.; McCosker, J.; Tighe, K. (2019). "Gymnothorax fimbriatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T195727A2408650. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T195727A2408650.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.
  3. "DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles". Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2015-01-13.
  4. Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino, 1984. The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Vol. 1. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, Japan. 437 p. (text).
  5. Chen, H.-M., K.-T. Shao and C.T. Chen, 1994. A review of the muraenid eels (Family Muraenidae) from Taiwan with descriptions of twelve new records. Zool. Stud. 33(1):44-64.
  6. Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: University of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.