coastal bays and estuaries; distinguished by threadlike dorsal fin; N. Australia and S. New Guinea: to 15 cm. (ENGRAULIDAE)
★★
19 INDIAN ANCHOVY
Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823)
Inhabits coastal waters; distinguished by rounded snout and broad silvery stripe on sides; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 16 cm. (ENGRAULIDAE)
★★
20 LONGFIN ANCHOVY
Setipinna tenuifilis (Valenciennes, 1848)
Inhabits coastal waters; similar to 18 above, but has normal dorsal fin; N.W. Australia and S. New Guinea; E. Indian Ocean and W. Pacific; to 20 cm. (ENGRAULIDAE)
★★
21 HAMILTON ‘S ANCHOVY
Thryssa hamiltonii (Gray, 1835)
Inhabits estuaries and mudflats; distinguished by rounded snout, large mouth, and spot behind gill cover; Thryssa setirostris (not shown) similar, but with extremely long posterior extension of upper jaw; found throughout the region except E. Queensland; N. Indian Ocean and W. Pacific; to 25 cm. (ENGRAULIDAE)
★★
PLATE 7: MORAY EELS (MURAENIDAE)
1 STARRY EEL
Echidna nebulosa (Thünberg, 1789)
Inhabits shallow coral reefs; distinguished by whitish body with 2 longitudinal rows of darkish pale-centred blotches and lacks sharp fangs, also known as Clouded reef-eel; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 70 cm.
2 GIRDLED REEF EEL
Echidna polyzona (Richardson, 1845)
Inhabits shallow coral reefs, often exposed to surge; distinguished by alternating light and dark bars of approximately equal width and lacks sharp fangs; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 60 cm.
3 ZEBRA EEL
Gymnomuraena zebra (Shaw, 1797)
Inhabits shallow coral reefs, often exposed to surge; distinguished by narrow pale bands encircling head and body, and lacks sharp fangs; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 150 cm.
4 LATTICE-TAIL MORAY
Gymnothorax buroensis (Bleeker, 1857)
Inhabits offshore coral reefs; distinguished by brown colour on front of body and blackish colour on posterior part with pale spotting; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 31 cm.
5 SPOTTED MORAY
Gymnothorax eurostus (Abbot, 1861)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by numerous small yellowish spots becoming larger on rear part of body; also dark spots or blotches evident mainly on front half; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 40 cm 0.23 kg.
6 SIEVE-PATTERNED MORAY
Gymnothorax criboris Whitley, 1932
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by several dark spots behind eye; network of fine interconnected lines on front half of body, and network of darker brown surrounding pale blotches on posterior half; also known as Brown-flecked reef eel; N. Australia southward to Sydney; to 75 cm.
7 BLACK-BLOTCHED MORAY
Gymnothorax favagineus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by bold spot pattern; one of the largest of moray eels, but usually harmless unless provoked; its sharp fangs can cause serious injury; also known as Tesselated moray and Giraffe eel; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 300 cm.
8 YELLOW-EDGED MORAY
Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1830)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; generally yellow-brown in colour with fine dark spotting on head and body and black patch at gill opening; juveniles are dark brown with fine yellow-green margin on dorsal and anal fins; also known as Leopard eel; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 50 cm.
9 FIMBRIATED MORAY
Gymnothorax fimbriatus (Bennett, 1832)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by tan or light brown colour with loose network of branched dark bands; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 80 cm.
10 GIANT MORAY
Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker, 1859)
Inhabits offshore coral reef; distinguished by yellow-brown head with small dark spots and large dark patch at gill opening; adults have leopard-like spotting on body; a large eel that can be dangerous if provoked; several attacks have been reported; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 250 cm.
11 PEARLY MORAY
Gymnothorax margaritophorus Bleeker, 1865
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by series of dark blotches just behind eye, pale chin and breast, and “lattice” pattern on rear part of body; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 40 cm.
12 MOTTLED MORAY
Gymnothorax undulatus (Lacepède, 1803)
Inhabits coral reef crevices, distinguished by “chain-link” pattern of narrow pale bands; juvenile with diffuse vertical bars most noticeable towards tail; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 150 cm.
13 BARTAIL MORAY
Gymnothorax zonipectus Seale, 1906
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by white spots on upper and lower jaw; dark spots on body and distinct dark bars on rear portion of dorsal and anal fins; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 32 cm.
14 PAINTED MORAY
Siderea picta (Ahl, 1789)
Inhabits shallow reef flats and tide pools; sometimes seen entirely out of water at low tide; distinguished by white colouration with numerous small dark spots; also known as Peppered moray; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 68 cm.
15 FRECKLED MORAY
Siderea thrysoidea (Richardson, 1845)
Inhabits shallow coral reefs; distinguished by light brown or tan coloured body (with faint mottlings), white to bluish snout, and silvery eyes; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 35 cm.
MORAY
