Ecology of Gymnothorax javanicus
 
Main Ref. Hiatt, R.W. and D.W. Strasburg, 1960
Remarks Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534); lagoon and seaward reefs. Commonly seen species along deep drop-offs and slopes in Indonesian waters (Ref. 48635). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Juveniles more secretive and occur on intertidal reef flats (Ref. 37816). It feeds primarily on fishes and occasionally on crustaceans; also on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 275). This is the largest Indo-Pacific moray eel (Ref. 30404), perhaps reaching 3 m in length. Because of its position at the top of the reef's food chain it is often ciguatoxic. Attacks humans when provoked (Ref. 3132).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Gymnothorax javanicus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Coral Reefs: reef flats; lagoons;
Special habitats Ref. Shao, K.-T., C.-P. Lin, L.-T. Ho and P.-L. Lin, 1990

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Hiatt, R.W. and D.W. Strasburg, 1960
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Hiatt, R.W. and D.W. Strasburg, 1960
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 3.87 0.64 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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