Animal Species:Stout Moray, Gymnothorax eurostus (Abbot, 1860)

The Stout Moray is a shallow-water, inshore reef species, found in the Indo-Pacific including the east, west and northern coasts of Australia.

Stout Moray at Halifax Park

Stout Moray at Halifax Park
Dave Harasti © Dave Harasti

Alternative Name/s

Abbott's Moray, Indo-Pacific Stout Moray, Spotted Moray, White-speckled Moray

Identification

The Stout 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

Ozcam map of Stout Moray specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
eurostus
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. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Coleman, N. 1981. Australian Sea Fishes North of 30oS. Doubleday. Pp. 297.
  5. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  7. 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:

Tags fishes, ichthyologu, Abbott's Moray, Gymnothorax eurostus, Muraenidae, Stout Moray, eel, shallow water, inshore reef, Indo-Pacific Stout Moray, Spotted Moray, White-speckled Moray, brown, yellow, black spots, dots/spots, 30 cm - 1 m, marine,