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Freckled moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus) — Muraenidae

Freckled moray

Gymnothorax thyrsoideus
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Freckled moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 73 cm.

Length
73.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The freckled moray is a moray eel from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 73 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless, light-brown body densely covered with fine dark freckles; its whitish eyes are conspicuous. As a nocturnal reef predator it shelters by day in crevices and tidal pools and hunts small fish and crustaceans. It can bite with sharp teeth if disturbed. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Freckled moray?

The Freckled moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Freckled moray live?

The Freckled moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Freckled moray get?

The Freckled moray grows to a maximum of about 73 cm. On average the species is around 40 cm.

Is the Freckled moray dangerous to humans?

The Freckled moray can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans.

Is the Freckled moray edible?

The Freckled moray is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sproetmurene verified
English name
Freckled moray verified
Scientific name
Gymnothorax thyrsoideus
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Freckled moray; Freckled reef eel; Greyface moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
73.2 verified
Average length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight 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
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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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