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Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) — Muraenidae

Nutting's moray

Gymnothorax nuttingi
Family: Muraenidae

The Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 112 cm.

Length
112 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
164.0–338.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
May bite
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Nutting's moray is a moray (Muraenidae) from the eastern Pacific, around remote islands such as the Galapagos. The species grows to about 1.1 metres and has an elongate, snake-shaped, yellow-brown, scaleless body with a fine, dark network pattern. As a nocturnal reef predator it hides by day in crevices of rocky reefs and seizes fish and crustaceans at night. It bites fiercely when disturbed; handle with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Nutting's moray?

The Nutting's moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Nutting's moray live?

The Nutting's moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Nutting's moray get?

The Nutting's moray grows to a maximum of about 112 cm.

Is the Nutting's moray dangerous to humans?

The Nutting's moray can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans.

Is the Nutting's moray edible?

Yes, the Nutting's moray is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Nuttings murene sourced
English name
Nutting's moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax nuttingi
Family
Muraenidae

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
112.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
164.0 verified
Max depth (m)
338.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
May bite verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gymnothorax

More from the family Muraenidae

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