Gymnothorax undulatus
Undulated Moray
©Alex Vail: Large and small individuals of Gymnothorax undulatus in the aquarium at Lizard Island Research Station.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Anguilliformes
Family
Muraenidae
Genus
Gymnothorax
Species
Gymnothorax undulatus
Status
least concern
Colours
Distinguishing features
This is one of the larger moray species, growing to at least a metre. Colour pattern is distinctive: head is yellow/greenish, body and fins have large, close-set dark brown blotches that tend to form irregular vertical bars, and there are small dark spots in the much paler spaces between the blotches. There is no dark spot on the gill opening as in the Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus.
Size
- Up to 150 cm (Length of specimen)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Local abundance
- Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: This species is abundant in the Lizard Island area but is not commonly seen because of its secretive habits.
Behaviour
Normally hidden within the reef during the day, apparently active nocturnally. Randall et al (1990) note that it is an aggressive species.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Other references
- Lassig, B.R. (1983). The effects of a cyclonic storm on coral reef assemblages, Environmental Biology of Fishes, 9(1): 55-63. LIRS catalog number 253.