ANIMAL SPECIES:Painted Moray, Gymnothorax pictus (Ahl, 1789)
The Painted Moray can be recognised by its fine black speckles which sometimes join to form diffuse spots. The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific and from islands of the tropical eastern Pacific.
Alternative Name/s
Bar-cheeked Eel, Black-speckled Reef-eels, Peppered MorayIdentification
The Painted Moray can be recognised by its fine black speckles which sometimes join to form diffuse spots.
Size range
The species grows to around 1.2 m in length.Distribution
The Painted Moray occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific and from islands of the tropical eastern Pacific. In Australia it is known from north-west Cape, Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to the Capricorn Group, Queensland.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Painted Moray specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The species is known to occur in very shallow water on reef flats.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
where it feeds primarily on crustaceans, but also on fishes. It has been observed fully exposed as the tide recedes, sometimes leaping from the water to capture crabs on rocks above the surface.
Classification
- Species:
- pictus
- Genus:
- Gymnothorax
- Family:
- Muraenidae
- Order:
- Anguilliformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Bohlke, E.B. & J.E. McCosker. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum. 53(1): 71-102.
- Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. pp. i-xii, 1-665.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R & R.C. Steene. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 507.
- Randall, J.E. 1995. Coastal Fishes of Oman. Crawford House Publishing. Pp. 439.
- Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawai’i Press. Pp. 584.
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Painted Moray, Gymnothorax pictus View full size
Dr John E. Randall
© Dr John E. Randall
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