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Dusky-banded moray (Gymnothorax reticularis) — Muraenidae

Dusky-banded moray

Gymnothorax reticularis
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Dusky-banded moray (Gymnothorax reticularis) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–56.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Can cause injury
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The reticulated moray is a moray eel from the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from Mauritius to southern Japan and Indonesia. It grows to about 60 cm and has an eel-like body with broad dark bands that are distinct in juveniles but break up in large individuals. As a bottom-dweller the fish lives on sand and gravel bottoms to about 56 metres depth and hunts fish and crustaceans. The moray does not bite unprovoked, but with its sharp teeth it can inflict a painful bite when grabbed. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dusky-banded moray?

The Dusky-banded moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Dusky-banded moray live?

The Dusky-banded moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Dusky-banded moray get?

The Dusky-banded moray grows to a maximum of about 60 cm.

Is the Dusky-banded moray dangerous to humans?

The Dusky-banded moray can cause injury; handle it with care.

Is the Dusky-banded moray edible?

The Dusky-banded moray is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Netvormige murene verified
English name
Dusky-banded moray verified
Scientific name
Gymnothorax reticularis
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Moray eel; Netted Moray; Net morey; Reticulated moray eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Max depth (m)
56.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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
Can cause injury sourced

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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