TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes (Eels and morays)
Family: Muraenidae (Moray eels)
Gymnothorax mordax
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is dark brown to green, mottled. The is somewhat compressed and has no pectoral fins
(all eels lack pelvic fins)..
Length up to 1.5 m (5 ft)
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: Found from Point Conception to south Baja California in rocky subtidal areas diurnally resting in crevices or holes with their head usually protruding. Depth 6–40 m, typically 0.6–20 m.
DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds nocturnally upon crustaceans, octopuses and fishes. Prey is detected by smell.
MORTALITY/LONGEVITY: They can live up to 30 years.
CONSERVATION: IUCN: NO SPECIAL STATUS
REMARKS: Morays constantly open and close their mouth. They do this to aid respiration. It is not a threat display. California Moray bites can cause serious lacerations, and may be unprovoked.
Much of its time they hiding in holes and crevices amongst the rocks on the ocean floor. They are able to remain out of sight from predators and are also able to ambush any unsuspecting prey that passes.
California Morays may be eaten but some species of Moray are poisonous.
References
California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium 2017
Pacific Coast Fishes Eschmeyer, Herald and Hammann page 64
More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes of the Pacific Coast, Milton Love 1996 pages 83-84
Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org/accounts/Gymnothorax_mordax/
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Gymnothorax-mordax.html
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink https://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1T8
Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2996881475/in/album-72157633406973974/
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Vancouver Island, British Columbia to Gulf of California. Most common south of Point Conception, California. Found commonly on nearshore rocky reefs and in kelp beds. Most abundant from 3–20m (10-65 feet).
Ron's Critter of the Day 