Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Gymnothorax: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, thorax, -akos = breast (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Alf Johnson of Port Elizabeth, South Africa supplied Smith with “…many rare and valuable specimens”. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Smith.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 400 m (Ref. 100719). Subtropical
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Algoa Bay, South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 130 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5503)
Vertebrae: 135 - 137. Pale brown with irregular, light spots anteriorly, larger and more rounded on tail and in young. Corner of mouth and gill opening dusky.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Inhabits crevices (Ref. 5503). Minimum depth based of 20m (Ref. 81209).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E. and D. Golani, 1995. Review of the moray eels (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) of the Red Sea. Bull. Mar. Sci. 56(3):849-880. (Ref. 10713)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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