| Family: |
Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae |
| Max. size: |
73.2 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 568.3 g |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Christmas Island to French Polynesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Tonga; throughout Micronesia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 125-137. Vomerine teeth are biserial and diverging anteriorly with the posterior most 3 to 4 teeth forming a single row (Ref. 37816).
Description: Characterized by whitish or pale yellow color; densely mottled with small brown spots; purplish grey color front half of head; white iris; body depth at gill opening17-22 in TL; origin of dorsal fin about midway between gill opening and mouth corner; anus well anterior to middle of body; preanal length about 2.5 in TL; conical teeth, none as canines, in two rows on side of upper jaw and front of lower jaw; median row of intermaxillary with two conical teeth (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Fairly common inhabitant of reef flats where it is usually encountered in shallow tidal pools. Feeds on crustaceans, small fishes and octopi (Ref. 89972). Often in shipwrecks; usually in pairs or small aggregations, and shares habitat with other morays (Ref. 48635). Also common in sheltered reefs (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
