Leopard moray eel
Appearance
Leopard moray eel | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | E. pardalis
|
Binomial name | |
Enchelycore pardalis |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Dragon_Eel_%28Enchelycore_pardalis%29.jpg/180px-Dragon_Eel_%28Enchelycore_pardalis%29.jpg)
The leopard moray eel or dragon moray (Enchelycore pardalis), is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.[1]
The leopard moray eel is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans from Réunion to the Hawaiian, Line and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and south to New Caledonia.[2]
It inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depth range from 8 to 60 m.[3]
Its length is up to 92 cm.[4]
This eel is characterized by its narrow, curved jaws, vivid red stripes on the head, and elongated tubular nostrils.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Enchelycore_pardalis_from_Photozou.jpg/250px-Enchelycore_pardalis_from_Photozou.jpg)
It is chiefly nocturnal; because of this and its preference for cryptic habitats, it is seldom seen. It feeds primarily on fishes and small cephalopods.[5]
References
- ^ http://www.fishbase.org/summary/7451
- ^ http://www.fishbase.org/summary/7451
- ^ Allen, G.R. and R.C. Steene, 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island Natural History Association, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, 6798, Australia. 197 p.
- ^ Randall, J.E., 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 720 p.
- ^ Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enchelycore pardalis.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikispecies-logo.svg/34px-Wikispecies-logo.svg.png)
Wikispecies has information related to Enchelycore pardalis.