Giant moray

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Giant moray
Moray eel komodo.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gymnothorax
Species:
G. javanicus
Binomial name
Gymnothorax javanicus
(Bleeker, 1859)

The giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) 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. [2]

Contents

Description

As the name suggests, the giant moray is a large eel, reaching up to a little over 3m (10 feet) in length and 30 kg (66 lb) in weight. [3] Its elongated body is brownish in color. While juveniles are tan in color with large black spots, adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The giant moray is widespread in the Indo-Pacific region, being found from eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, until the Pitcairn group, Hawaiian Islands and also Polynesia. North to south Japan and south to New Caledonia, Fiji and the Austral Islands. [5]

It lives in lagoons and on the outer slopes of coral reefs. During the day, it sits sheltered in crevices between 1 and 50 meters deep. [6]

Biology

The giant moray is carnivorous and nocturnal, hunting its prey within the reef. It is known to engage in cooperative hunting with the roving coral grouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus). [7] These two fish species are complementary hunters: While the eel hunts in the reef, it may scare prey up and out of the reef, leaving them to be eaten by the grouper. Similarly, the grouper hunting above the reef may cause prey to attempt to seek refuge in the reef, where the moray may ambush them.

The giant moray mainly feeds on fish and occasionally on crustaceans. [8] This moray eel was recently identified as a natural predator of the lionfish (Pterois miles) in its native habitat in the Red Sea. [9] A mature giant moray has few natural predators, although it may compete for food with reef-dwelling sharks. [10] Cleaner wrasses are commonly found in its presence, cleaning the interior of its mouth.

Gymnothorax javanicus have been shown to have very small optic tectum volumes, indicating that they primarily hunt by smell rather than vision. [11]

Hazards

This species may be hazardous to people. Being at the top of the food chain, it has been known to exhibit biomagnification of harmful ciguatera toxins. [12] [13] Eating a giant moray, especially the liver, can thus cause illness, coma, or even death. While this moray may bite if threatened, cornered or in the presence of food, [2] [4] [14] it is not usually aggressive.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moray eel</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laced moray</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red lionfish</span> Species of fish

The red lionfish is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes. It is mainly native to the Indo-Pacific region, but has become an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea, as well as along the East Coast of the United States and East Mediterranean and also found in Brazil at Fernando de Noronha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidako moray</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zebra moray</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-edged moray</span> 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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geometric moray</span> 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. It is parasitized by Ichthyoxenus puhi, a species of isopod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkey moray</span> 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.

<i>Dendrochirus zebra</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus zebra, known commonly as the zebra turkeyfish or zebra lionfish among other vernacular names, is a species of marine fish in the family Scorpaenidae.

<i>Pterois miles</i> Species of fish

Pterois miles, the devil firefish or common lionfish, is a species of ray-finned fish native to the western Indo-Pacific region. It is frequently confused with its close relative, the red lionfish. The scientific name is from Greek pteron, meaning "wing", and Latin miles, meaning "soldier".

Although most species in the Red Sea pose no threat to humans, there are a few notable exceptions.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral reef fish</span> Fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs

Coral reef fish are fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs. Coral reefs form complex ecosystems with tremendous biodiversity. Among the myriad inhabitants, the fish stand out as colourful and interesting to watch. Hundreds of species can exist in a small area of a healthy reef, many of them hidden or well camouflaged. Reef fish have developed many ingenious specialisations adapted to survival on the reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitemargin moray eel</span> Species of fish

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackcheek moray eel</span> Species of fish

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barred-fin moray</span> Species of fish

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roving coral grouper</span> Species of fish

The roving coral grouper, also known as the spotted coral grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, although the Red Sea taxon, P. marisrubri, is regarded as a separate species by some authorities.

<i>Pterois</i> Genus of venomous fish

Pterois is a genus of venomous marine fish, commonly known as lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific. It is characterized by conspicuous warning coloration with red or black bands, and ostentatious dorsal fins tipped with venomous spines. Pterois radiata, Pterois volitans, and Pterois miles are the most commonly studied species in the genus. Pterois species are popular aquarium fish. P. volitans and P. miles are recent and significant invasive species in the west Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poisonous fish</span> Fish containing indigestible toxins

Poisonous fish are fish that are poisonous to eat. They contain toxins which are not destroyed by the digestive systems of animals that eat the fish. Venomous fish also contain toxins, but do not necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, since the digestive system often destroys their venom.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, D.G.; McCosker, J.; Tighe, K. (2019). "Gymnothorax javanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T195741A2410981. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T195741A2410981.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN   0-00-715986-2
  3. ↑ Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
  4. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Gymnothorax javanicus". FishBase . May 2007 version.
  5. ↑ Fricke, R., 1999. Fishes of the Mascarene Islands (Réunion, Mauritius, Rodriguez): an annotated checklist, with descriptions of new species. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, Theses Zoologicae, Vol. 31:759 p.
  6. ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p.
  7. ↑ Bshary R, Hohner A, Ait-el-Djoudi K, Fricke H (Dec 2006). "Interspecific communicative and coordinated hunting between groupers and giant moray eels in the Red Sea". PLOS Biol. 4 (12): e431. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0040431 . PMC   1750927 . PMID   17147471.
  8. ↑ Kuiter, R.H., 1998. Photo guide to fishes of the Maldives. Atoll Editions, Victoria, Australia. 257 p.
  9. ↑ Bos A.R.; Sanad A.M.; Elsayed K. (2017). "Gymnothorax spp. (Muraenidae) as natural predators of the lionfish Pterois miles in its native biogeographical range". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 100 (6): 745–748. Bibcode:2017EnvBF.100..745B. doi:10.1007/s10641-017-0600-7. S2CID   25045547.
  10. ↑ Prasetyo, Andhika; Simpfendorfer, Colin; Sherman, Samantha; Moore, Stephen (12 November 2019). "The study of shark and ray abundance in Nusa Penida Aquatic Conservation Area". INA-Rxiv.
  11. ↑ Iglesias, Teresa L.; Dornburg, Alex; Warren, Dan L.; Wainwright, Peter C.; Schmitz, Lars; Economo, Evan P. (2018). "Eyes Wide Shut: the impact of dim-light vision on neural investment in marine teleosts". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 31 (8): 1082–1092. doi:10.1111/jeb.13299. ISSN   1420-9101. PMID   29808568. S2CID   44161422.
  12. ↑ Wong, Yiu-Chung; Richard J. Lewis Sr. (2017-07-03). Analysis of Food Toxins and Toxicants. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-1-118-99271-5.
  13. ↑ Chan, Thomas Y. K. (July 2017). "Regional Variations in the Risk and Severity of Ciguatera Caused by Eating Moray Eels". Toxins. 9 (7): 201. doi: 10.3390/toxins9070201 . PMC   5535148 . PMID   28672845.
  14. ↑ Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN   88-87177-42-2
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