Animal Species:Fimbriate Moray, Gymnothorax fimbriatus (Bennett, 1832)

Alternative Name/s

Darkspotted Moray, Spot-face Moray

Identification

The Fimbriate Moray is grey to light brown with rows of well separated dark brown blotches. The head is greenish-yellow dorsally. There is a large white spot at the rear of the lower jaw. A row of large canine teeth runs along the roof of the mouth.

Size range

The species grows to about 80 cm in length.

Distribution

The Fimbriate Moray occurs in the tropical Indo-west Pacific. In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and from northern to southern Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Fimbriate Moray specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is found in coral reef and inshore waters.

Classification

Species:

fimbriatus

Genus:

Gymnothorax

Family:

Muraenidae

Order:

Anguilliformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
2. Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawai’i Press. Pp. 584.
3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

 

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 11 October 2012

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Fimbriate Moray, Gymnothorax fimbriatus, Muraenidae, eel, grey, light brown, dark brlown blotches, blotches/mottled, tropical water, Darkspotted Moray, Spot-face Moray, greenish-yellow, 30 cm - 1 m, coral reef, marine, inshore water,