Peppered moray (Gymnothorax pictus)

Scientific name: Gymnothorax pictus Ahl, 1789

Peppered moray (Gymnothorax pictus)

The Peppered moray (Gymnothorax pictus) is a marine fish of the family Muraenidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. Greyish and speckled with irregular, dark markings. Young yellowish with hollow-centered spots which becomes less conspicuous with age. Lacks the molariform teeth as well as the depressible vomerine fangs present in most Gymnothorax and have two rows of vomerine teeth.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Gymnothorax pictus
Family
Muraenidae (Moray eels)
Order
Anguilliformes (Eels and Morays)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
140
Depth range
5–100 m (16–328 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 100 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: East Africa to the Galapagos, Cocos, and Clipperton islands, north to the Hawaiian and Ryukyu islands, south to Australia and the Kermadec Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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