Dragon moray
| Dragon moray | ||||||||||||
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Dragon moray ( Enchelycore pardalis ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Enchelycore pardalis | ||||||||||||
| Temminck & Schlegel , 1846 |
The dragon eel ( Enchelycore pardalis ) or Panthermuräne is a strikingly colored kind of eels (Muraenidae). It occurs in the Indo-Pacific from Réunion to South Japan , South Korea , Hawaii and New Caledonia .
features
The fish, which can reach a maximum length of 90 centimeters, have a strong body with a noticeably high fin edge. The jaw is elongated and curved. This means that the teeth in the center of the jaw always remain visible even when the mouth is closed. Above their eyes, they each have a fleshy "horn" formed from extensions of the rear nostrils. As with all morays, their front nostrils are elongated like a tube. The coloration of the fish is different depending on the origin of the animals and also changes in the course of life. Due to the red or orange basic color, which is unique among moray eels, it can be easily distinguished from all other moray eel species. On the reddish basic color, the fish show a pattern of white, dark-edged spots. Older animals also have a pattern of brown stripes.
distribution
Dragon morays live hidden in coral reefs up to 60 meters deep. They feed on smaller fish.
literature
- Hans A. Baensch / Robert A. Patzner: Mergus Sea Water Atlas Volume 6, Mergus-Verlag, Melle, ISBN 3-88244-116-X
- Marco Lichtenberger: Moray eels in the seawater aquarium. Natur und Tier Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-86659-081-6 .
Web links
- Dragon moray on Fishbase.org (English)