Giant Moray
Giant Moray
Gymnothorax javanicus
UncommonMuraenidaeMay bite
ID points
- The largest moray, can exceed 2 metres
- Brown ground densely covered with dark leopard-like blotches
- A large black area around the gill opening
Basics
- Family
- Muraenidae
- Length
- 1.5–3.0 m
- Depth
- 1-50 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs
- Distribution
- Indo-Pacific coral reefs
- Habitat
- Reef crevices and caves
- Diet
- Fish, octopus, crustaceans
Easily confused with
Yellow-margin MorayDorsal and anal fins edged in bright yellow
Moray EelSnake-like body with no pectoral or pelvic fins
Undulated MorayYellow-green wavy net pattern on a dark brown groundFun fact
The giant moray reaches 3 metres and is the bulkiest eel of all. It hunts cooperatively with the coral trout: the eel pushes into the crevice to flush prey out, and the trout waits in open water to cut it off.