Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1830)

Scientific name: Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
Alternative name/s:
Leopard Eel, Yellow-edged Moray
Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus Click to enlarge image
A Yellowmargin Moray at a depth of 25 m, “Fan Garden,” 3 km W of Sawa Island, Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia, 1 September 2012. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Gymnothorax
    Species
    flavimarginatus
    Family
    Muraenidae
    Order
    Anguilliformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 1.2 m in length.

Introduction

The Yellowmargin Moray is named after the yellow-green margin posteriorly on the fins. The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific regions.

Identification

The species is yellowish with a densely mottled in dark brown. It has a purplish head and a black blotch over the gill openings.

Moray expert John Pogonoski stated "In preserved specimens the yellow margin is very narrow and usually restricted to the posterior tail (yellow margin appears broadest at tail tip). I can’t see evidence of it being present anywhere near the dorsal fin origin on images of preserved fish I have access to."

Distribution

Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific regions.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.