Abbott's Moray, Gymnothorax eurostus (Abbot, 1861)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Abbott's Moray, Gymnothorax eurostus (Abbot, 1861)

Abbott's moray eel is a shallow-water, inshore reef species, found in the Indo-Pacific including the east, west and northern coasts of Australia.

Identification

Abbott's Moray is brown with yellow and black spots. Its colour is darker and there are more spots posteriorly. The tail is edged in white.

Size range

The species grows to around 50 cm in length.

Distribution

It is known from numerous marine locations in the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia it occurs from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the northern coast of New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Abbott's Moray specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:: eurostus
Genus:: Gymnothorax
Family:: Muraenidae
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
Bohlke, E.B. & J.E. McCosker. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum. 53(1): 71-102.
Coleman, N. 1981. Australian Sea Fishes North of 30oS. Doubleday. Pp. 297.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Last Updated: 14 May 2009

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