ANIMAL SPECIES:Whitemouth Moray, Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
The Whitemouth Moray is brown to yellow-brown with numerous dark-edged white spots on the head and body. The inside of the mouth and the tip of the tail are white. A black blotch surrounds the gill opening. There are enlarged canine teeth at the front of the upper jaw.
Identification
The Whitemouth Moray is brown to yellow-brown with numerous dark-edged white spots on the head and body. The inside of the mouth and the tip of the tail are white. A black blotch surrounds the gill opening.
There are enlarged canine teeth at the front of the upper jaw.
Size range
The species grows to 1m in length.Distribution
The Whitemouth Moray is found throughout much of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it commonly seen by divers on the Great Barrier Reef.
Classification
- Species:
- meleagris
- Genus:
- Gymnothorax
- Family:
- Muraenidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- 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.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
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A Whitemouth Moray at Osprey Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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