Enchelycore

Enchelycore
Leopard moray eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Muraenidae
Genus:	Enchelycore J. R. Forster, 1788
Species
See text.

Enchelycore is a genus of moray eels in the family Muraenidae. Enchelycore species are generally small to medium-sized eels, most ranging from 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) in length, with the largest being the Mosaic Moray (E. ramosa), which reaches a length of 6 feet (180 cm). Members of the genus feature distinctive, curved jaws that prevent them from fully closing their mouth and aids them in catching, and holding on to prey. Enchelycore species can also feature extremely bright colors (E. pardalis, E. anatina) and ornate markings (E. lichenosa).

Species

There are currently 13 recognized species in this genus:^[1]

• Enchelycore anatina (R. T. Lowe, 1838) (Fangtooth moray)
• Enchelycore bayeri (L. P. Schultz, 1953) (Bayer's moray)
• Enchelycore bikiniensis (L. P. Schultz, 1953) (Bikini Atoll moray)
• Enchelycore carychroa J. E. Böhlke & E. B. Böhlke, 1976 (Caribbean chestnut moray)
• Enchelycore kamara J. E. Böhlke & E. B. Böhlke, 1980 (Dark-spotted moray)
• Enchelycore lichenosa (D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1901) (Reticulate hookjaw moray)
• Enchelycore nigricans (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Mulatto Conger)
• Enchelycore nycturanus D. G. Smith, 2002
• Enchelycore octaviana (G. S. Myers & Wade, 1941) (Slenderjaw moray)
• Enchelycore pardalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Leopard moray)
• Enchelycore ramosa (Griffin, 1926) (Mosaic moray)
• Enchelycore schismatorhynchus (Bleeker, 1853) (White-margined moray)
• Enchelycore tamarae Prokofiev, 2005

References

1. Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). Species of Enchelycore in FishBase. October 2012 version.