Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Muraenidae Scientific name Gymnothorax javanicus Higher classification Gymnothorax Order Eel | |
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Similar Moray eel, Eel, Gymnothorax, Green moray, Muraena | ||
The giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) is a species of moray eel and a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae. In terms of body mass, it is the largest moray eel (the slender giant moray is longer).
Contents
Giant moray eel attacks fish
Description
As the name suggests, it is a large eel, reaching up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in length and 30 kg (66 lb) in weight. Its serpentine in shape body has a brownish background color. While juveniles are tan in color with large black spots, adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head and a black area surrounding the gill opening.
Distribution & habitat
The giant moray is widespread in the Indo-Pacific region, being found from eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, until the Pitcairn group, Hawaiian islands and also Polynesia. North to south Japan and south to New Caledonia, Fiji and the Austral Islands.
It lives in lagoons and on the outer slopes of coral reefs, during the day it sits sheltered in crevices between 1 and 50 meters deep.
Biology
The giant moray is carnivorous, it leaves its lair at night to actively hunt its prey along the reef. It mainly feeds on fish and occasionally on crustaceans. It is known to engage in cooperative hunting with the roving coralgrouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus).
Hazards
This species may be hazardous to people. Being at the top of the food chain, it is likely to cause ciguatera poisoning if eaten. It has been implicated in provoked and unprovoked attacks on scuba divers.