Laced moray

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

Laced moray
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gymnothorax
Species:
G. favagineus
Binomial name
Gymnothorax favagineus
Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801

Description

Gymnothorax favagineus is a large moray which can reach a maximum length of 300 cm, but specimens usually encountered are much smaller.[1] Its serpentine in shape body has a white to yellowish background color dotted with numerous black spots which latter vary in size and shape depending on the individual and on the environment in which the animals live.[2] Therefore, morays living on a reef with clear water will have less black spots than those of a turbid environment.[3] It is from this characteristic color pattern that ensue its vernacular names.

Distribution and habitat

The laced moray is widespread throughout the Indo-West Pacific area from eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, until Papua New Guinea and from south Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.[4][5]

It lives on the outer slopes of coral reefs. During the day, it sits sheltered in crevices between 3.3 and 148.5 feet (1 and 45 meters) deep.[6]

Biology

The laced moray is carnivorous, it leaves its lair at night to actively hunt its preys along the reef. It feeds mainly on small fish and cephalopods.[7] Large adults are prone to be aggressive in the wild.[8]

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References
  1. Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
  2. Kuiter, R.H., 1998. Photo guide to fishes of the Maldives. Atoll Editions, Victoria, Australia. 257 p.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p.
  4. 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.
  5. Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
  6. http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=1567
  7. Sommer, C., W. Schneider and J.-M. Poutiers, 1996. FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of Somalia. FAO, Rome. 376 p.
  8. Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
  • Marinespecies.org: Gymnothorax favagineus
  • Fishes of Australia : Gymnothorax favagineus
  • "Gymnothorax favagineus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  • Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Gymnothorax favagineus" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
  • Photos of Laced moray on Sealife Collection
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