Home · Chlopsidae · Common false moray
Common false moray (Kaupichthys hyoproroides) — Chlopsidae

Common false moray

Kaupichthys hyoproroides
Family: Chlopsidae
LC · Least Concern

The Common false moray (Kaupichthys hyoproroides) is a saltwater fish of the family Chlopsidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–95.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Kaupichthys hyoproroides, the false moray, is a small eel-like fish of the family Chlopsidae from tropical seas. Although it strongly resembles a true moray, it belongs to a separate family; it has a snake- or eel-like, brownish, scaleless body with a continuous fin fringe and reaches about 30 cm. It is a bottom-dwelling, solitary species living in and around coral reefs and rocky shores, where it hides deep in crevices and recesses by day. As an ambush predator it hunts small crustaceans and invertebrates at night. Owing to its secretive habits the species is rarely seen and has no fishery value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Common false moray?

The Common false moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Common false moray live?

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

How big does the Common false moray get?

The Common false moray grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Common false moray dangerous to humans?

No, the Common false moray is harmless to humans.

Is the Common false moray edible?

The Common false moray is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Valse murene sourced
English name
Common false moray verified
Scientific name
Kaupichthys hyoproroides
Family
Chlopsidae
Other names
Double-toothed xenocongrid eel; False Moray; False moray verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
95.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not 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
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Kaupichthys

More from the family Chlopsidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →