Giant moray
| Giant moray | ||||||||||||
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Giant moray ( Gymnothorax javanicus ) |
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| Gymnothorax javanicus | ||||||||||||
| ( Bleeker , 1859) |
The giant moray ( Gymnothorax javanicus ) is a predatory fish from the genus Gymnothorax from the moray family (Muraenidae).
External features
Giant moray eels have the typical, eel-like, powerful body of moray eels. This species can be up to 3 meters long and can weigh 30 kg . It is the largest moray eel in its range. The smooth skin is brown with dark spots. In adult animals these are reminiscent of the fur pattern of leopards . There are black spots on the gill openings . Giant morays have strong teeth with long, pointed teeth.
distribution
This species occurs in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific region .
habitat
Giant morays inhabit crevices and small caves between the corals of a coral reef . They prefer the reef slope and occur in water depths of 2 to 50 meters. These moray eels can often be seen at the cleaning stations of cleaner shrimp or cleaner fish , especially to have their mouths cleaned.
nutrition
The animals are nocturnal hunters. They feed mainly on fish, but also crustaceans . Even the poisonous Indian lionfish ( Pterois miles ) from the Red Sea is on the menu. During the day, moray eels also leave their hiding place from time to time. Eating giant moray eels as food can lead to ciguatera - a special form of fish poisoning.
Behavior towards people
Giant moray eels are not aggressive towards humans and tend to be tame . The regular opening and closing of the mouth, which often has a threatening effect on divers and snorkelers, is used for breathing and is not a threatening gesture. However, if the animals are harassed or provoked, they can inflict very painful bites. These bite wounds are prone to infection and tend to heal poorly.
literature
- Alberto Siliotti et al. A .: The fish of the Red Sea, Memofish-Book , Geodia Verlag, Verona 2002, ISBN 88-87177-43-0
Web links
- Giant moray on Fishbase.org (English)
- Care instructions for aquarists
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bos AR, Sanad AM, Elsayed K .: Gymnothorax spp. (Muraenidae) as natural predators of the lionfish Pterois miles in its native biogeographical range . In: Environmental Biology of Fishes . 100, No. 6, 2017, pp. 745-748. doi : 10.1007 / s10641-017-0600-7 .