Animal Species:Whitemouth Moray, Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw & Nodder, 1795)

As its standard name suggests, the inside of the mouth of the Whitemouth Moray is white. The species occurs throughout much of the Indo-Pacific region.

Whitemouth Moray at Osprey Reef

Whitemouth Moray at Osprey Reef
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

The Whitemouth Moray is brown to yellow-brown with numerous dark-edged white spots on the head and body. The inside of the mouth and the tip of the tail are white. A black blotch surrounds the gill opening. There are enlarged canine teeth at the front of the upper jaw.

Size range

The species grows to 1m in length.

Distribution

The Whitemouth Moray is found throughout much of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it commonly seen by divers on the Great Barrier Reef.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Whitemouth Moray specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
meleagris
Genus:
Gymnothorax
Family:
Muraenidae
Order:
Anguilliformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. 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.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Whitemouth Moray, Gymnothorax meleagris, Muraenidae, eel, white mouth, brown, yellow-brown, dark-edged white spots, blotches/mottles, blotches/mottled, enlarged canine teeth, Great Barrier Reef, > 1m,