Greyface moray eel
| Greyface moray eel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Muraenidae |
| Genus: | Gymnothorax |
| Species: | G. thyrsoideus |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnothorax thyrsoideus (J. Richardson, 1845) | |
The greyface moray, freckled moray, slender moray, or white-eyed moray,[1] Gymnothorax thyrsoideus, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.
Description
The greyface moray is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 66 cm, but the ones usually observed are rather 40 cm.[2][3] Its serpentine in shape body has a brown yellowish background color with variation of intensity from a moray to another and it is speckled with a lot of small dark spots. The head is grey to brownish with distinctive white eyes. Here is a video of the eel in its natural habitat.
Distribution & habitat
The greyface moray is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific area from India and Maldives to Polynesia and from south Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.[4]
This moray likes shallow and somewhat turbid waters from lagoons, protected reefs, areas rich in debris and wrecks from the surface to 35 meters deep.[5]
Biology
The greyface moray is a carnivore and benthic fish. At day, it sits in a shelter often along with other morays and when night came it leaves its lair and actively hunt prey, consisting of small fish and crustaceans.
References
- ↑ Common names for Gymnothorax thyrsoideus at www.fishbase.org.
- ↑ Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.
- ↑ Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p.
- ↑ Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene 1990 Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p.
- ↑ Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.