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Verrill's moray (Gymnothorax verrilli) — Muraenidae

Verrill's moray

Gymnothorax verrilli
Family: Muraenidae

The Verrill's moray (Gymnothorax verrilli) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 43 cm.

Length
43 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–10.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Verrill's moray is a moray eel (Muraenidae) from reef water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 35 cm and has an elongate, muscular, scaleless, eel-like body without pectoral fins, a long dorsal fin margin and a strong mouth. As a nocturnal ambush predator it shelters by day with only its head out of a crevice and hunts fish and crustaceans by night. When disturbed or handled it can give a deep, tearing bite; keep hands out of crevices.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Verrill's moray?

The Verrill's moray has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Verrill's moray live?

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

How big does the Verrill's moray get?

The Verrill's moray grows to a maximum of about 43 cm.

Is the Verrill's moray dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Verrill's moray edible?

Yes, the Verrill's moray is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Verrills murene sourced
English name
Verrill's moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax verrilli
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
White-edged moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
43.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
10.0 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
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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