EELS
The eels featured on this plate are all members of the family Muraenidae, commonly known as morays. Most are equipped with needle-sharp teeth which has given them a largely undeserved reputation of being dangerous. While it is true that some larger eels, for example no. 10, have attacked humans, in most cases the eel had been provoked in some manner. Large eels should definitely not be teased with offerings of dead or struggling fish either hand held or on the end of a spear. Exceptions are morays that hang out at popular tourist dive sites and are relatively tame. In this case trust your local guide for advice, but always be cautious! Species in the genus Echidna have blunt teeth in contrast to most other eels. This is an adaptation for feeding on shelled molluscs and crustaceans. They exhibit striking colour patterns and are sometimes kept as aquarium pets. The Painted Moray (14) sometimes frightens beachcombers. It occurs in very shallow pools at low tide or is occasionally found high and dry under rocks.
PLATE 8: MORAY EELS (FAMILY MURAENIDAE)
1 BLACK-SPOTTED MORAY
Gymnothorax melanospilus (Bleeker, 1855)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by bold black spots on white background, with many of the spots u-shaped; throughout S.E. Asia; E. Indian Ocean and W. Pacific; to 180 cm.
2 LONGFANG MORAY
Enchelynassa canina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by bilobed flap on front nostril, hooked jaws, wrinkled appearance of head, extremely long canine teeth at front of mouth, and several white spots on lower jaw; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 150 cm.
3 WHITE-MARGINED MORAY
Enchelycore schismatorhynchus (Bleeker, 1853)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by hooked jaws, large fangs, and white margin on dorsal fin; throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 120 cm.
4 HOOKJAW MORAY
Enchelycore bayeri (Schultz, 1953)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by plain brown colour, large fangs, and hooked jaws; a relatively small harmless species; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W.A., and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 70 cm.
5 DRAGON MORAY
Enchelycore pardalis (Temminck, 1847)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by highly ornate pattern of bars and spots, and long tube-like rear nostrils above front part of eyes; throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 80 cm.
6 GUINEAFOWL MORAY
Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by network of small white spots on dark ground colour, also inside of mouth is white; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 100 cm.
7 MOLUCCAN MORAY
Gymnothorax moluccensis (Bleeker, 1865)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; plain brown colour without distinguishing marks; throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to at least 50 cm.
8 YELLOWMOUTH MORAY
Gymnothorax nudivomer (Playfair & Gunther, 1867)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by yellow colour on inside of mouth, network of fine whites spots on head and much larger white spots over much of body; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 180 cm.
9 TIGER MORAY
Gymnothorax enigmaticus McCosker & Randall, 1982
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by black bars over entire length of body; similar to 15 below, but bars on head completely encircle body and no yellow present on head; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. A. and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 58 cm.
10 HIGHFIN MORAY
Gymnothorax pseudothtysoideus (Bleeker, 1852)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by spotted pattern and relatively well developed dorsal fin; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to 80 cm.
11 RICHARDSON’S MORAY
Gymnothorax richardsoni (Bleeker, 1852)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; a small speckled eel that is frequently found under rocks on shallow reef flats, often in weedy areas; throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to at least 30 cm.
12 SLENDERTAIL MORAY
Gymnothorax gracilicaudus Jenkins, 1903
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by vertically elongate, branching dark blotches, forming definite bars on anterior half of body, but in several interconnected rows on posterior half; offshore reefs of W.A., Great Barrier Reef, and throughout Oceania; to 32 cm.
13 DWARF MORAY
Gymnothorax melatremus Schultz, 1953
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by small size, black rim around eye and prominent black mark around gill opening; general colour ranges from brown to bright yellow, sometimes with network of dark markings posteriorly; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W.A. and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W and C. Pacific; to 26 cm.
14 MARBLED MORAY
Uropterygius marmoratus (Lacepède, 1803)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by marbled colour pattern and complete lack of dorsal and anal fins; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W.A. and throughout S.E. Asia; W. and C. Pacific; to 50 cm.
15 BANDED MORAY
Gymnothorax rueppelliae (McClelland, 1845)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; similar to 9 above, but distinguished by yellowish head and dark bars on head do not encircle the body; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W∙A. and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 80 cm.
16 RIBBON EEL
Rhinomuraena quaesita Garman, 1888
Inhabits sand or rubble patches on the edge of coral reefs; feeds on fishes and crustaceans; males are bright blue and yellow with elaborate nostril flaps, females yellow except for black anal fin, juveniles and subadults are largely black; harmless; prized as aquarium pets; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 120 cm.
17 WHITE RIBBON EEL
Pseudechidna brummeri (Bleeker, 1858)
Inhabits reef flat, sheltered coastal reefs, and lagoons, usually on sand-rubble bottoms with rocky outcrops; distinguished by compressed ribbon-like body and overall pale colouration; throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 105 cm.
RIBBON EEL
