The painted moray

painted moray

Scientific name	Gymnothorax meleagris
Descriptor	Shaw
Year of description	1795
IUCN category (World)	LC
Family	Muraenidae
Genus	Gymnothorax

Introduction

Gymnothorax meleagris, is an eel-like fish from the moray eel family, commonly known as the "Painted Moray" because of its coloration resembling that of a guinea fowl.

It can be confused with other species with similar patterns such as the leopard moray (Gymnothorax favagineus) or the yellow-mouthed moray (Gymnothorax nudivomer) which also have very contrasting markings.

This medium-sized moray, reaching up to 1.20m, is found in all the coastal areas of the Indo-Pacific and has the peculiarity of enjoying shallow and even brackish waters.

Who is it?

Morphology

Type

Moray eels
Average size

80 cm
Maximum size

120 cm
Longevity

30 year
Mimicry

stone
Pattern

ponctuations

Type

Moray eels
Average size

80 cm
Maximum size

120 cm
Longevity

30 year
Mimicry

stone
Pattern

ponctuations

How to recognize This fish ?

The body of the Painted Moray, long and sinuous, allows it to swim by undulating in the water. It is dark brown and dotted with small white spots. A lighter border surrounds the tail.

The snout may be slightly more yellow, especially in young specimens. Thanks to this particular coloration, this species uses its mimicry to blend in with its environment. The inside of the mouth is white, which easily distinguishes it from Gymnothorax nudivomer, and the outline of the pupils is yellow.

As with many relatives, there is a black gill pore on each side of the head.

Sexual dimorphism

There is no pronounced sexual dimorphism in this moray species, although studies suggest that males are larger than females due to sequential hermaphroditism. Some or all female individuals may change sex as they grow.

Behaviour & Life cycle

diet

carnivorous
Sociability

solitary
territorial

Yes
Way of living

diurnal

Like all moray eels, the Painted Moray is a solitary fish that resides in a hole it finds in coral reefs. It is a fairly calm species with other species unless they serve as food. However, it will defend its hiding spot if an intruder enters.

With its head sticking out of its hole, the Painted Moray primarily hunts fish by ambush, although it also feeds on crustaceans. If necessary, it will leave its crevice and slyly patrol the reefs in search of prey. Preferring shallow depths, it is often seen hunting in reefs partially exposed at low tide.

Reproduction

Reproduction

ovipare

The Painted Moray is an oviparous fish that reproduces in pairs. Males can be more aggressive during breeding season to court a female. Once the pair is formed, the male and female entwine at the bottom of the water just before spawning.

Risks for humans

Venomous

No
Bite

Yes

If it feels threatened, the Painted Moray can attack by vigorously biting its opponent. It is important to be particularly vigilant during dives or fishing, where one should avoid disturbing it by getting too close to its hiding spot.

The teeth, oriented towards the back of the jaw, can cause significant injury.

Origin and distribution

Origin

Africa Asia Bay of Bengal Great Barrier Reef mer d'Oman Red Sea South East Asian Seas Indonesian seas western Indian Ocean Galapagos Western Tropical Pacific Ocean Oceania

islands

Bali Mauritius Réunion Lombok Maldives Nusa Penida French Polynesia

Geographic distribution & Conservation

The Gymnothorax meleagris is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the east coast of Africa to Hawaii. It is particularly abundant on the west coast of India and the northern part of Australia, as well as in more distant islands such as Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It is also present in the East China Sea.

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

Temperature

24 - 28 °C
Depth

0 - 51 m
Flow

Medium

Biotope presentation

The Painted Moray particularly enjoys the very shallow depths of reefs near the coast such as lagoons. That's why it is also found in brackish water, and sometimes in fresh water.

The species is loyal to rocky areas and coral reefs.

Species of the same biotope

To go further

Species of the same family

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

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.