Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Gymnothorax: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, thorax, -akos = breast (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Lacepède.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 40 m (Ref. 30573). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: throughout the area, including the Red Sea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 65.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Head brownish with conspicuous lines of black dots (Ref. 3257). Body lilac with brown marbling (Ref. 3257).
Found in shallow coastal waters, on coral and rocky reefs (Ref. 30573). Simultaneous hermaphroditism is confirmed for this species (Ref. 103751).
Simultaneous hermaphroditism is confirmed using good diagnostic criteria (Ref. 103751).
Böhlke, E.B. and J.E. Randall, 1999. Gymnothorax castlei, a new species of Indo-Pacific moray eel (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Raffles Bull. Zool. 47(2):549-554. (Ref. 35991)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.6 - 29.3, mean 27.3 °C (based on 182 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00048 (0.00025 - 0.00091), b=3.28 (3.12 - 3.44), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 8,000-12,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 36 [20, 67] mg/100g; Iron = 0.462 [0.279, 0.977] mg/100g; Protein = 18.8 [16.5, 21.3] %; Omega3 = 0.11 [0.05, 0.31] g/100g; Selenium = 38.1 [21.2, 75.7] μg/100g; VitaminA = 73.4 [22.6, 225.2] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.972 [0.691, 1.341] mg/100g (wet weight);