WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Turkey Moray

Gymnothorax meleagris

Also known as: Guinea Moray Eel, Guineafowl Moray, Guineafowl Moray Eel, Painted Moray, Spotted Eel, Spotted Moray, White-spotted Moray, Whitemouth Moray

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2019
Adult
@fishx6 · Makunudhoo Island Resort, Maldives · August 20061 / 12
01

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, hiding in crevices and holes, amongst debris, rock, and rubble, over shallow lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans, fish.

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

COLOURS
Head & Mouth
white mouth

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific, Southeast Atlantic
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 10
LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, hiding in crevices and holes, amongst debris, rock, and rubble, over shallow lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 12

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAnguilliformes
    5. familyMuraenidae
    6. genusGymnothorax
    7. speciesGymnothorax meleagris (Shaw, 1795)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Moray Eels (Muraenidae)