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Gymnothorax rueppelliae (McClelland, 1844) Banded moray |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae | |||
| Max. size: | 80 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; brackish; marine; pH range: 28; depth range 0 - 40 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (south to Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, Ref. 33390) to the Hawaiian, Tuamoto, and Marquesan islands, north to the Ryukyus, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0; Vertebrae: 125-135. Color pale greyish brown with 16-21 dark bars; bars becoming indistinct on large individuals; top of head yellow; corner of mouth with a dark brown spot. Description: Characterized by depth of body at gill opening 13-25 in TL; origin of dorsal fin closer to gill opening than corner of mouth; anus anterior to middle of body; preanal length 2.1-2.3 in TL; single row of anterior jaw teeth; 2-3 small teeth alternating with long canines; three conspicuously long canines in median row at front of upper jaw; 1-3 slender canines in inner row at side of upper jaw (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Found in clear waters of lagoons and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Adults feed on fishes and crustaceans, mainly at night. Nervous and aggressive (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||