Gymnothorax javanicus

(Bleeker, 1859)

Vernacular names
English : Giant moray
French : Murène javanaise, Murène géante

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Anguilliformes
Family : Muraenidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to 3 meters in length for a weight of 3 kg. Black area around gill opening. Juveniles brown with leopard-like dark spots. Adults have smaller spots and turn olive-brown with orange tinge on back and slight purple tinge on head.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from the Red Sea and East Africa to North Japan, Hawaii, Galapagos Islands and southern Australia. Lives in lagoons, seaward reefs and steep drop-offs, to at least 50 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is locally common within its huge range. Collection for the aquarium trade isn’t considered a threat. Occurs in many protected areas.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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