Home · Muraenidae · Banded mud moray
Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus) — Muraenidae

Banded mud moray

Gymnothorax chlamydatus
Family: Muraenidae

The Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–30.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite
Range
Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., Philippines
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Banded mud moray?

Get the app

Description

The banded mud moray is a moray (Muraenidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 60 cm and has an elongate, snake-shaped, scaleless body with indistinct dark bands, adapted to life on soft bottoms. As a nocturnal predator it hides by day buried in mud or in holes and seizes small fish and crustaceans at night. It bites when disturbed; handle with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banded mud moray?

The Banded mud moray has a snake-like body and is mainly brown. Can bite with sharp teeth or powerful jaws; handle with care.

Where does the Banded mud moray live?

The Banded mud moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., Philippines

How big does the Banded mud moray get?

The Banded mud moray grows to a maximum of about 60 cm.

Is the Banded mud moray dangerous to humans?

The Banded mud moray can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans. Do not feed or reach into crevices. For a bite: rinse the wound thoroughly with clean water, apply firm pressure to stop bleeding and cover with a sterile dressing. Moray bites are deep and prone to infection: always have them assessed medically and check tetanus status.

Is the Banded mud moray edible?

Yes, the Banded mud moray is commonly eaten.

More photos

Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus) — Muraenidae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus) — Muraenidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Max S, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus) — Muraenidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus) — Muraenidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Malte Sellin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Banded mud moray?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Banded mud moray is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Banded mud moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax chlamydatus
Family
Muraenidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 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
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., Philippines sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Can bite with sharp teeth or powerful jaws; handle with care. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
May bite verified
First aid
Do not feed or reach into crevices. For a bite: rinse the wound thoroughly with clean water, apply firm pressure to stop bleeding and cover with a sterile dressing. Moray bites are deep and prone to infection: always have them assessed medically and check tetanus status. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gymnothorax

More from the family Muraenidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Banded mud moray?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Banded mud moray is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Banded mud moray? Get the app