Canton Island moray (Anarchias cantonensis) fish species and information / pictures of Canton Island moray - Anarchias cantonensis

Canton Island moray (Anarchias cantonensis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Anarchias cantonensis

Common Name
Canton Island moray

Biology
This species is distinguished from its congeners except A. exulatus and A. schultzi by the position of the fourth supraorbital pore, anteromedial to the posterior nostril and separated from it by an interval of normal, pigmented skin; fewer vertebrae 98-108 (vs. 110-117 in A. exulatus and 105-113 in A. schultzi); longer snout-anus distance 45.1-50.6% TL (vs. 40.3-45.1% in A. exulatus and 41.5-45.1% in A. schultzi); with discrete, sharply defined pale spots (vs. larger, more diffuse pale areas oriented vertically in A. exulatus and uniform brown of A. schultzi) (Ref. 85321).

Classification

Classified By
Schultz, 1943
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)
Family
Moray eels (Muraenidae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-West Pacific
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: tropical, from central Indian Ocean in the west to the Phoenix and Line Islands in the east; southernmost records from about 21?S in Tonga, northernmost from about 19?N in the Philippines. Not recorded anywhere west of the Maldives, although it reaches as far as Palmyra I. in the east and does not occur in the Hawaiian Islands nor anywhere in French Polynesia.
Range
19°N - 21°S

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated
Trophic Level
3.43 s.e. 0.48 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
21.9 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5005 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Unknown
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (11 of 100)
Resilience
Unknown
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated