Giant Moray

Gymnothorax javanicus

Brown with small black blotches.

Size : 239 cm

Habitat : In lagoons and outreefs, 1-46 m. Inhabits cavities and crevices in reef rock. The largest moray eel species by weight (up to more than 35 kg). Predominantly feeds on fish, among them also juvenile Whitetip Reef Sharks, as well as crustaceans and octopuses. Normally peaceful, even occasionally being fed by divers, however even unprovoked, serious bite injuries have been suffered.

Distribution : Red Sea and East Africa to SW Japan, Hawaii, Panama and Pitcairn.

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Actinopterygii

ORDER

:

Anguilliformes

FAMILY

:

Muraenidae

GENUS

:

Gymnothorax

SPECIES

:

Gymnothorax javanicus

Other Information

Population Status

Least Concern (LC)

PHOTO COLLECTION

Reference

  1. inaturalist.org
  2. Reef Fishes of the Indo-Pacific. Book by Matthias Bergbauer and Manuela Kirschner