Moray eel: Difference between revisions
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*** ''[[Echidna nocturna]]'' |
*** ''[[Echidna nocturna]]'' |
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*** [[Pebbletooth moray]], ''[[Echidna peli]]'' |
*** [[Pebbletooth moray]], ''[[Echidna peli]]'' |
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*** [[Barred moray]], ''[[Echidna polyzona]]'' |
*** [[Barred moray]], ''[[Echidna polyzona]]''[[Image:Ecpol u0.gif|thumb|right|[[Barred moray]],<br>''[[Echidna polyzona]]'']] |
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[[Image:Ecpol u0.gif|thumb|right|[[Barred moray]],<br>''[[Echidna polyzona]]'']] |
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*** ''[[Echidna rhodochilus]]'' |
*** ''[[Echidna rhodochilus]]'' |
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*** ''[[Echidna unicolor]]'' |
*** ''[[Echidna unicolor]]'' |
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*** ''[[Gymnothorax flavoculus]]'' |
*** ''[[Gymnothorax flavoculus]]'' |
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*** ''[[Gymnothorax formosus]]'' |
*** ''[[Gymnothorax formosus]]'' |
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*** [[Green moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax funebris]]'' |
*** [[Green moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax funebris]]''[[Image:TucacasBajoGrandeGymnothoraxFunebris y Elacatinus Evelynae Desparasitando.JPG|thumb|right|[[Green moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax funebris]]'']] |
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[[Image:TucacasBajoGrandeGymnothoraxFunebris y Elacatinus Evelynae Desparasitando.JPG|thumb|right|[[Green moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax funebris]]'']] |
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*** [[Brown-spotted moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus]]'' |
*** [[Brown-spotted moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus]]'' |
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*** [[Slendertail moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax gracilicauda]]'' |
*** [[Slendertail moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax gracilicauda]]'' |
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*** [[Goldentail moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax miliaris]]'' |
*** [[Goldentail moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax miliaris]]'' |
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*** ''[[Gymnothorax minor]]'' |
*** ''[[Gymnothorax minor]]'' |
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*** [[California Moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax mordax]]'' |
*** [[California Moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax mordax]]''[[Image:California Moray.jpg|thumb|right|[[California moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax mordax]]'']][[Image:Morayeel 300.jpg|thumb|right|[[California moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax mordax]]'']] |
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[[Image:California Moray.jpg|thumb|right|[[California moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax mordax]]'']] |
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[[Image:Morayeel 300.jpg|thumb|right|[[California moray]],<br>''[[Gymnothorax mordax]]'']] |
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*** [[Moluccan moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax moluccensis]]'' |
*** [[Moluccan moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax moluccensis]]'' |
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*** [[Drab moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax monochrous]]'' |
*** [[Drab moray]], ''[[Gymnothorax monochrous]]'' |
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*** ''[[Muraena insularum]]'' |
*** ''[[Muraena insularum]]'' |
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*** [[Honeycomb moray]], ''[[Muraena melanotis]]'' |
*** [[Honeycomb moray]], ''[[Muraena melanotis]]'' |
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*** [[Reticulate moray]], ''[[Muraena retifera]]'' |
*** [[Reticulate moray]], ''[[Muraena retifera]]''[[Image:Muraena retifera.jpg|thumb|right|[[Reticulate moray]],<br>''[[Muraena retifera]]'']] |
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[[Image:Muraena retifera.jpg|thumb|right|[[Reticulate moray]],<br>''[[Muraena retifera]]'']] |
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*** [[Stout moray]], ''[[Muraena robusta]]'' |
*** [[Stout moray]], ''[[Muraena robusta]]'' |
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** ''[[Pseudechidna]]'' |
** ''[[Pseudechidna]]'' |
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*** [[White ribbon eel]], ''[[Pseudechidna brummeri]]'' |
*** [[White ribbon eel]], ''[[Pseudechidna brummeri]]'' |
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** ''[[Rhinomuraena]]'' |
** ''[[Rhinomuraena]]'' |
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*** [[Ribbon moray]], ''[[Rhinomuraena quaesita]]'' |
*** [[Ribbon moray]], ''[[Rhinomuraena quaesita]]''[[Image:Ribbon_eel.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ribbon moray]],<br>''[[Rhinomuraena quaesita]]]] |
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[[Image:Ribbon_eel.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ribbon moray]],<br>''[[Rhinomuraena quaesita]]]] |
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** ''[[Strophidon]]'' |
** ''[[Strophidon]]'' |
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*** [[Slender giant moray]], ''[[Strophidon sathete]]'' |
*** [[Slender giant moray]], ''[[Strophidon sathete]]'' |
Revision as of 15:31, 13 August 2006
Moray eel | |
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Reticulated moray, Gymnothorax polygonius | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | Muraenidae
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Genera | |
See text. |
Moray eels are large cosmopolitan eels of the family Muraenidae. There are approximately 200 species in 15 genera, the largest being the slender giant moray, Strophidon sathete, at up to 4 m (13 feet) in length. Most morays measure in at 1.5 m (5 feet) in length.
Moray eels frequent tropical and subtropical coral reefs to depths of 200 m, where they spend most of their time crammed inside crevices and alcoves. They secrete a protective mucus over their scaleless skin which contains a toxin in some species. Their small circular gills, located on the flanks far posterior to the mouth, require the moray eel to maintain a gape in order to facilitate respiration.
The dorsal fin extends from just behind the head, along the back and joins seamlessly with the caudal and anal fin. Most species lack pectoral and pelvic fins, adding to their snake-like appearance. Their eyes are rather small; morays rely on their highly developed sense of smell, lying in wait to ambush their prey.
Their bodies are patterned cryptically, the camouflage also being present inside the mouth. Their wide jaws are armed with sizable sharp teeth efficient at tearing flesh, making moray eels a subject best enjoyed from afar.
Morays are carnivorous and feed primarily on other fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. Groupers and other moray eels are among their few predators. There is a commercial fishery for several species, but some have been known to cause ciguatera fish poisoning.
Species
The following is an incomplete breakdown of the family. Please add to it as required.
- Subfamily Muraeninae
- Cirrimaxilla
- Echidna
- Enchelycore
- Fangtooth moray , Enchelycore anatina
- Hookjaw moray, Enchelycore bayeri
- Bikini Atoll moray, Enchelycore bikiniensis
- Chestnut moray, Enchelycore carychroa
- Enchelycore kamara
- Enchelycore lichenosa
- Mulatto conger, Enchelycore nigricans
- Enchelycore nycturanus
- Slenderjaw moray, Enchelycore octaviana
- Enchelycore pardalis
- Mosaic moray, Enchelycore ramosus
- Enchelycore schismatorhynchus
- Enchelynassa
- Gymnothorax
- Dark moray, Gymnothorax afer
- Whitemargin moray, Gymnothorax albimarginatus
- Gymnothorax angusticauda
- Gymnothorax angusticeps
- Gymnothorax annasona
- Gymnothorax annulatus
- Atoll moray, Gymnothorax atolli
- Gymnothorax australicola
- Southern moray, Gymnothorax austrinus
- Gymnothorax bacalladoi
- Gymnothorax bathyphilus
- Y-patterned moray, Gymnothorax berndti
- Blackcheek moray, Gymnothorax breedeni
- Vagrant moray, Gymnothorax buroensis
- Chestnut moray, Gymnothorax castaneus
- Gymnothorax castlei
- Headspot moray, Gymnothorax cephalospilus
- Lipspot moray, Gymnothorax chilospilus
- Gymnothorax chlamydatus
- Saddled moray, Gymnothorax conspersus
- Sieve-patterned moray, Gymnothorax cribroris
- Gymnothorax dorsalis
- Speckled moray, Gymnothorax dovii
- Elegant moray, Gymnothorax elegans
- Enigmatic moray, Gymnothorax enigmaticus
- Spotted-tail moray, Gymnothorax equatorialis
- Abbott's moray eel, Gymnothorax eurostus
- Gymnothorax eurygnathos
- Laced moray, Gymnothorax favagineus
- Fimbriated moray, Gymnothorax fimbriatus
- Yellow-edged moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
- Gymnothorax flavoculus
- Gymnothorax formosus
- Green moray, Gymnothorax funebris
- Brown-spotted moray, Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus
- Slendertail moray, Gymnothorax gracilicauda
- Geometric moray, Gymnothorax griseus
- Liver-colored moray, Gymnothorax hepaticus
- Gymnothorax herrei
- Gymnothorax hubbsi
- Gymnothorax intesi
- Gymnothorax isingteena
- Giant moray, Gymnothorax javanicus
- Whitespotted moray, Gymnothorax johnsoni
- Kidako moray, Gymnothorax kidako
- Blacktail moray, Gymnothorax kolpos
- Gymnothorax kontodontos
- Gymnothorax longinquus
- Sharktooth moray, Gymnothorax maderensis
- Spotjaw moray, Gymnothorax mareei
- Blotch-necked moray, Gymnothorax margaritophorus
- Marshall Islands moray, Gymnothorax marshallensis
- Gymnothorax mccoskeri
- Oman moray, Gymnothorax megaspilus
- Dwarf moray, Gymnothorax melatremus
- Turkey moray, Gymnothorax meleagris
- Gymnothorax microspila
- Gymnothorax microstictus
- Goldentail moray, Gymnothorax miliaris
- Gymnothorax minor
- California Moray, Gymnothorax mordax
- Moluccan moray, Gymnothorax moluccensis
- Drab moray, Gymnothorax monochrous
- One-spot moray, Gymnothorax monostigma
- California moray , Gymnothorax mordax
- Spotted moray, Gymnothorax moringa
- Gymnothorax mucifer
- Easter Island moray, Gymnothorax nasuta
- Gymnothorax neglectus
- Blackedge moray, Gymnothorax nigromarginatus
- Snowflake-patched moray, Gymnothorax niphostigmus
- Grey moray, Gymnothorax nubilus
- Starry moray, Gymnothorax nudivomer
- Gymnothorax nuttingi
- Speckled moray, Gymnothorax obesus
- Caribbean ocellated moray, Gymnothorax ocellatus
- Panaman moray, Gymnothorax panamensis
- Gymnothorax parini
- Gymnothorax phalarus
- Ghost moray, Gymnothorax phasmatodes
- Gymnothorax philippinus
- Peppered moray, Gymnothorax pictus
- Pike's moray, Gymnothorax pikei
- Pinda moray, Gymnothorax pindae
- Polygon's moray, Gymnothorax polygonius
- Gymnothorax polyspondylus
- Freshwater moray, Gymnothorax polyuranodon
- Lowfin moray, Gymnothorax porphyreus
- Yellow moray, Gymnothorax prasinus
- Australian mottled moray, Gymnothorax prionodon
- Gymnothorax prolatus
- Gymnothorax pseudoherrei
- Highfin moray, Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus
- Bars'n spot moray, Gymnothorax punctatofasciatus
- Red Sea whitespotted moray, Gymnothorax punctatus
- Gymnothorax randalli
- Reeve's moray, Gymnothorax reevesii
- Gymnothorax reticularis
- Richardson's moray, Gymnothorax richardsonii
- Gymnothorax robinsi
- Banded moray, Gymnothorax rueppellii
- Gymnothorax sagenodeta
- Gymnothorax sagmacephalus
- Ocellated moray, Gymnothorax saxicola
- Gymnothorax serratidens
- Gymnothorax sokotrensis
- Steindachner's moray, Gymnothorax steindachneri
- Greyface moray, Gymnothorax thyrsoideus
- Gymnothorax tile
- Undulated moray, Gymnothorax undulatus
- Brown moray, Gymnothorax unicolor
- Gymnothorax vagrans
- White-edged moray, Gymnothorax verrilli
- Purplemouth moray, Gymnothorax vicinus
- Gymnothorax woodwardi
- Y-bar moray, Gymnothorax ypsilon
- Zebra moray, Gymnomuraena zebra
- Barredfin moray, Gymnothorax zonipectis
- Monopenchelys
- Muraena
- Pseudechidna
- Rhinomuraena
- Strophidon
- Subfamily Uropterygiinae
External link
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Muraenidae" in FishBase. January 2006 version.
- http://www.itis.usda.gov ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.: 161160