Fin's Fish Guide
The Brown speckled eel (Gymnothorax steindachneri) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 91 cm.
Description
Steindachner's moray is a large moray eel from the central Pacific, mainly around Hawaii. The species grows to about 90 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless, brown body with fine paler speckles. As a nocturnal reef predator it shelters by day in crevices of rocky reefs and hunts fish, crustaceans and squid at night. It 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 speckled eel?
The Brown speckled eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Brown speckled snake-like body; nocturnal reef moray that bites when disturbed
Where does the Brown speckled eel live?
The Brown speckled eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Central Pacific
How big does the Brown speckled eel get?
The Brown speckled eel grows to a maximum of about 91 cm.
Is the Brown speckled eel dangerous to humans?
The Brown speckled 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 Brown speckled eel edible?
The Brown speckled 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
Want the complete picture on the Brown speckled eel?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Brown speckled eel is one of 12,519 species in the app.