tessellate moray
| Scientific name | Gymnothorax favagineus |
|---|---|
| Descriptor | Bloch & Schneider |
| Year of description | 1801 |
| IUCN category | LC |
| Family | Muraenidae |
| Genus | Gymnothorax |
Introduction
Gymnothorax favagineus, commonly known as tessellate moray, is a salt water fish.
Who is it?
Morphology
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Average size200 cm
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Maximum size300 cm
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Longevity30 year
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Mimicrystone
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Patternponctuations
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Average size200 cm
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Maximum size300 cm
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Longevity30 year
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Mimicrystone
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Patternponctuations
How to recognize the tessellate moray ?
The tessellate moray measures between 200 and 300 cm. This fish is bicolore with a predominantly noir, marron and blanc body. The also has noir and marron ponctuations.
Behaviour & Life cycle
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dietcarnivorous
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Sociabilitysolitary
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territorialYes
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Way of livingnocturnal
The tessellate moray hunts in the stalk and is one of the predators of its biotope. Opportunistic, it does not hesitate to attack any smaller animal nearby.
The tessellate moray is a fish solitary naturally found near the rocks. This species is carnivorous . This fish lives mainly at night. Usually, it leaves its hiding place and starts to be active once it gets dark.
The tessellate moray is a territorial animal that does not tolerate any incursions into its living area. It is particularly virulent against other territorial species and it can provoke heated fights.
Reproduction
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Reproductionovipare
The tessellate moray is a fish ovipare.
Harmless species
This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.
Where to find it?
Where to see this species?
What is its habitat?
Natural environment characteristics
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Temperature24 - 28 °C
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Depth0 - 50 m
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FlowMedium
Biotope presentation
The tessellate moray is most often found at a depth between 0m and 50m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.
To go further
Sources & Contributions
Participation & Validation
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Translation
Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.
Bibliographic references
A new species of Short Brown Unpatterned Moray Eel of the Genus Gymnothorax (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from the Bay of Bengal - DIPANJAN RAY - ANIL MOHAPATRA - DAVID G. SMITH - ZOOTAXA - 2015.
First record of the moray eel Gymnothorax reticularis, Bloch, 1795 in the Mediterranean Sea, with a note on its taxonomy and distribution - NIR STERN - MENACHEM GOREN - ZOOTAXA - 2013.
The Moray Eel Fishery in the Seagrass Beds of Siquijor Island, Central Philippines, with Remarks on Two New Philippine Records of the Genus Gymnothorax - BILLY T. WAGEY - ABNER A. BUCOL - VIVIE KATUUK - International Peer Reviewed Journal - 2015.
To knot or not? Novel feeding behaviours in moray eels - Shanta Barley - Jessica J. Meeuwig - Mark G Meekan - Marine Biodiversity - 2016. Volume 46, issue 3
Where to see this species?
Tags
Species of the same family
Same genus
Species of the same biotope
Scientific partners
