Strophidon sathete (Hamilton, 1822)
Slender giant moray
Strophidon sathete
photo by Steene, R.

Family:  Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae
Max. size:  400 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; dH range: 15 - 30; depth range 0 - 15 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 183-196. Brownish grey above, lighter below (Ref. 3257). Body moderately elongate, cylindrical in front, compressed along tail; eyes small; teeth small, biserial, inner series enlarged; head not obviously distinct from trunk although the profile is moderately steep; very large mouth, extending to well beyond eye; biserial sharp teeth on jaws, larger in front and in inner row; dorsal fin inserted on head before gill-opening; scales absent (Ref. 4832).
Biology:  Inhabits muddy ocean bottoms (Ref. 6934) and estuarine areas (Ref. 2334), but sometimes found in rivers (Ref. 2334) and inner bays (Ref. 37816). Feeds mainly on a variety of small fishes and crustaceans. Known to extend itself vertically from a burrow with its head held horizontally beneath the surface, rising and falling with the tide (Ref. 9710). Marketed fresh and consumed locally (Ref. 3258). Solitary (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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