Family: |
Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Uropterygiinae |
Max. size: |
50 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m |
Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 33390) to the Marquesan and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia; the Carolines in Micronesia. |
Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 119-123. Drab brown in color, tip of tail yellow (Ref. 3257). Median fins restricted to the end of the tail (Ref. 3257).
Description: Characterized by body depth at gill opening 15-20 in TL; anus anterior to middle of body; preanal length 2.3-2.4 in TL; one prominent lateral-line pore on head above level of gill opening; jaws with two rows of teeth; small teeth in outer series, close-set, slanting backwards; well-spaced, long, slender teeth of inner-series, depressible canines; lower jaw teeth extending only about two-thirds length of jaw; intermaxillary with two very long depressible canines (Ref. 90102). |
Biology: |
Lives in mangrove swamps, brackish rivers, and shallow coral reefs to depths of at least 8 m (Ref. 1602). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942. |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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