Fin's Fish Guide
The Abbott's eel (Gymnothorax eurostus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 60 cm.
Description
The stout moray is a medium-sized moray eel from the Indo-Pacific, including around Hawaii. The species grows to about 60 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless body with a brown, finely mottled pattern. As a nocturnal reef predator it shelters by day in crevices and cavities and hunts small fish and crustaceans at night. It is not aggressive, but can bite with sharp teeth if disturbed. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Abbott's eel?
The Abbott's eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Brown marbled snake-like body; nocturnal reef moray
Where does the Abbott's eel live?
The Abbott's eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific
How big does the Abbott's eel get?
The Abbott's eel grows to a maximum of about 60 cm.
Is the Abbott's eel dangerous to humans?
The Abbott's eel can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans. Morays do not bite unprovoked, but when disturbed or caught they can bite deeply with backward-pointing teeth and are hard to shake off. Clean any bite wound thoroughly, stop the bleeding and seek medical help; moray bites infect easily.
Is the Abbott's eel edible?
The Abbott's eel is rarely eaten.
More photos
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Gymnothorax
More from the family Muraenidae
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Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Abbott's eel is one of 12,519 species in the app.