WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Undulated Moray

Gymnothorax undulatus

Also known as: Common Hawaiian Moray, Common Moray Eel, Leopard Moray, Mottled Moray, Mottled Reef Eel, Undulate Moray, Undulated Moray Eel

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2019
Adult
@JarJar · LK, Sri Lanka · October 20131 / 26
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs, or with other morays, hiding in crevices and holes, amongst debris, rock, and rubble, over lagoons and seaward reefs.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans, fish and octopus.
Can bite if divers come too close.

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

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific, Eastern Central Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 23
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs, or with other morays, hiding in crevices and holes, amongst debris, rock, and rubble, over lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 26

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 undulatus (Lacepède, 1803)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Moray Eels (Muraenidae)