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Black moray (Gymnothorax funebris) — Muraenidae

Black moray

Gymnothorax funebris
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Black moray (Gymnothorax funebris) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 250 cm.

Length
250 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Can cause injury
Range
Western Atlantic and Caribbean, from the southern USA to Brazil.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The green moray is a large moray (family Muraenidae) of the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species can reach about 2.5 metres and has a powerful, eel-shaped body without pectoral fins; its green colour arises from a yellowish mucus layer over the blue-grey skin. It lives solitarily along rocky shores, reefs and mangroves, usually shallower than 30 metres, and shelters in crevices by day. At night it hunts fishes and crustaceans. Owing to its size and powerful bite it can inflict serious injuries if approached carelessly.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black moray?

The Black moray has a snake-like body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern. Green colour from yellow mucus over blue-grey skin; powerful bite.

Where does the Black moray live?

The Black moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Atlantic and Caribbean, from the southern USA to Brazil.

How big does the Black moray get?

The Black moray grows to a maximum of about 250 cm. On average the species is around 150 cm.

Is the Black moray dangerous to humans?

The Black moray can cause injury; handle it with care. For a bite, clean and disinfect the wound thoroughly, control bleeding and seek medical help; moray bites are deep and become infected easily.

Is the Black moray edible?

The Black moray is rarely eaten.

More photos

Black moray (Gymnothorax funebris) — Muraenidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA (CC BY 2.0)
Black moray (Gymnothorax funebris) — Muraenidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — P.Lindgren (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Black moray (Gymnothorax funebris) — Muraenidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Black moray (Gymnothorax funebris) — Muraenidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Michael Harjes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Black moray verified
Scientific name
Gymnothorax funebris
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Black moray; Green cong; Green conger; Green congo; Green eel; Green moray; Olive-green moray eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
250.0 verified
Average length (cm)
150.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Green 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)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic and Caribbean, from the southern USA to Brazil. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Fishes and crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Spawns with pelagic eggs; larvae (leptocephalus) drift in open water for a long time. inferred
Special features
Green colour from yellow mucus over blue-grey skin; powerful bite. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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
Can cause injury sourced
First aid
For a bite, clean and disinfect the wound thoroughly, control bleeding and seek medical help; moray bites are deep and become infected easily. sourced

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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