Uropterygius fasciolatus (Regan, 1909)
Blotched moray

Family:  Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Uropterygiinae
Max. size:  53 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea. Solomons, Palau, Tokelau and Kapingamarangi in Micronesia (Ref. 37816).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0; Vertebrae: 127. TL to 53 cm. Description: Characterized by brown color with irregular, narrow blackish bands; white spots widely scattered; lower jaw with white bars; white bar through eye; frequently with pair of short black stripes radiating from posterior eye; body depth at gill opening 18 in TL; anus anterior to middle of body, preanal length 2.4 in TL; gill opening at middle of side; three rows of jaw teeth, increasing in size inwardly; several large canines on intermaxillary, separated from uniserial vomerine teeth by gap (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults inhabit shallow lagoon reefs in areas of sand, coralline algae and coral heads (Ref. 37816). Possibly are protogynous hermaphrodites (Ref. 32169).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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