The giant moray

giant moray

Scientific name	Gymnothorax javanicus
Descriptor	Bleeker
Year of description	1859
IUCN category (World)	LC
Family	Muraenidae
Genus	Gymnothorax

Introduction

Gymnothorax javanicus, commonly known as giant moray, is a salt water fish.

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Who is it?

Morphology

Type

Moray eels
Average size

230 cm
Maximum size

300 cm
Longevity

30 year
Mimicry

rocky bottoms
Pattern

ponctuations

Type

Moray eels
Average size

230 cm
Maximum size

300 cm
Longevity

30 year
Mimicry

rocky bottoms
Pattern

ponctuations

How to recognize the giant moray ?

The giant moray measures between 230 and 300 cm. This fish is bicolore with a predominantly noir and marron body. The also has noir ponctuations.

Behaviour & Life cycle

diet

carnivorous
Sociability

solitary
territorial

Yes
Way of living

nocturnal

The giant moray hunts in the stalk and is one of the predators of its biotope. Opportunistic, it does not hesitate to attack any smaller animal nearby.

The giant moray is a fish solitary naturally found near the rocks. This species is carnivorous . This fish lives mainly at night. Usually, it leaves its hiding place and starts to be active once it gets dark.

The giant moray is a territorial animal that does not tolerate any incursions into its living area. It is particularly virulent against other territorial species and it can provoke heated fights.

Reproduction

Reproduction

ovipare qui pond en eau libre

The giant moray is a fish ovipare qui pond en eau libre.

Risks for humans

Venomous

No
Bite

Yes

This species can attack if it feels threatened. It is important to be particularly vigilant especially during dives or fishing sessions.

Where to find it?

Origin

Bay of Bengal Persian Gulf Great Barrier Reef mer d'Oman East China Sea Philippine Sea Red Sea South East Asian Seas Indonesian seas western Indian Ocean Galapagos Western Tropical Pacific Ocean

islands

Bali Lombok Maldives Nusa Penida French Polynesia

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

Temperature

24 - 28 °C
Depth

0 - 50 m

Biotope presentation

The giant moray is most often found at a depth between 0m and 50m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.

Species of the same biotope

bennett's sharpnose puffer Tetraodontidae

To go further

Species of the same family

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

Bibliographic references

A new species of Short Brown Unpatterned Moray Eel of the Genus Gymnothorax (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from the Bay of Bengal - DIPANJAN RAY - ANIL MOHAPATRA - DAVID G. SMITH - ZOOTAXA - 2015.

First record of the moray eel Gymnothorax reticularis, Bloch, 1795 in the Mediterranean Sea, with a note on its taxonomy and distribution - NIR STERN - MENACHEM GOREN - ZOOTAXA - 2013.

The Moray Eel Fishery in the Seagrass Beds of Siquijor Island, Central Philippines, with Remarks on Two New Philippine Records of the Genus Gymnothorax - BILLY T. WAGEY - ABNER A. BUCOL - VIVIE KATUUK - International Peer Reviewed Journal - 2015.

Gymnothorax spp. (Muraenidae) as natural predators of the lionfish Pterois miles in its native biogeographical range - Arthur R. Bos - Ashraf M. Sanad - Khamis Elsayed - Environmental Biology of Fishes - 2017. Volume 100, issue 6

Interspecific Communicative and Coordinated Hunting between Groupers and Giant Moray Eels in the Red Sea - Redouan Bshary - Andrea Hohner - Karim At-el-Djoudi - Hans Fricke - PLOS biology - 2006. Volume 4 issue 12