| Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae |
| 47.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; marine; depth range 2 - 30 m |
| Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, also from Socotra Island outside the Gulf of Aden. |
|
Vertebrae: 123-128. This species is distinguished from by the following characters: head and jaws slender; teeth sharp, slender, and smooth; intermaxillary teeth in one peripheral and one medial series; maxillary teeth in 2 rows, the outer row with 14-20 small teeth, while the inner row with 0-6 large, depressible teeth; dentary teeth in 1 row with 2 large fixed teeth at anterior end, followed by a single row of 15-20 small teeth, and 1 large, depressible tooth just behind the large anterior teeth; total vertebrae 123-128. Colour brown with irregular dendritic pale markings, not interconnected or chain-like; the dorsal fin with oblique, conspicuous, parallel streaks (on tail) (Ref. 121606). |
| Usual habitats of this fish are crevices and shelters of fringing seaward reefs, and may be seen out of shelter at night only. Female specimens as small as 22.3 cm were found with large eggs. Males appear to mature at larger sizes than females (Ref. 121606). |
|
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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