WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Peppered Moray

Gymnothorax pictus

Also known as: Bar-cheeked Eel, Black-specked Reef Eel, Giant Moray, Ocellate Moray, Painted Moray, Painted Reef Eel, Paint-spotted Moray, Peppered Eel, Sidereal Moray, Speckled Sidereal Moray

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2019
Adult
@designedforx · KE, Kenya · July 20161 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly, in crevices of debris, rocks, and rubble, over reef flats, and shorelines.

Morays open and close their mouths to move water through their gills for respiration.
This behaviour can often be seen as a threat especially towards divers, in fact this is far from the truth, they are very shy creatures and will only attack if provoked!

02

How to identify

Pattern
spots

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly, in crevices of debris, rocks, and rubble, over reef flats, and shorelines.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAnguilliformes
    5. familyMuraenidae
    6. genusGymnothorax
    7. speciesGymnothorax pictus (Ahl, 1789)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Moray Eels (Muraenidae)