Fin's Fish Guide
The Brown reef eel (Gymnothorax prasinus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 92 cm.
Description
The yellow moray is a moray eel from the southwest Pacific, around Australia and New Zealand. The species grows to about 92 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless body with a yellow-green to brown-green colour. As a nocturnal reef predator it shelters by day in crevices of rocky reefs and tidal pools and hunts small fish and crustaceans. It is not aggressive, but can bite hard with sharp teeth if disturbed. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Brown reef eel?
The Brown reef eel has a snake-like body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern. Yellow-green snake-like body; nocturnal reef moray that bites when disturbed
Where does the Brown reef eel live?
The Brown reef eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Southwest Pacific
How big does the Brown reef eel get?
The Brown reef eel grows to a maximum of about 92 cm.
Is the Brown reef eel dangerous to humans?
The Brown reef 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. Clean any bite wound thoroughly, stop the bleeding and seek medical help; moray bites infect easily.
Is the Brown reef eel edible?
The Brown reef 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 Brown reef eel is one of 12,519 species in the app.