Home · Muraenidae · Caribbean chestnut moray
Caribbean chestnut moray (Enchelycore carychroa) — Muraenidae

Caribbean chestnut moray

Enchelycore carychroa
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Caribbean chestnut moray (Enchelycore carychroa) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 34 cm.

Length
34 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The chestnut moray is a small moray eel of the family Muraenidae from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 34 cm and has an elongate, snake-like, chestnut-brown body with fine pale speckles on the head. It prefers rocky bottoms and also occurs in and around coral reefs, where by day it shelters in crevices and holes. As a nocturnal predator it hunts small fishes and crustaceans. The curved jaws bear sharp, backward-pointing teeth. With those jaws it can give a nasty bite; never put a hand into crevices.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Caribbean chestnut moray?

The Caribbean chestnut moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Caribbean chestnut moray live?

The Caribbean chestnut moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Caribbean chestnut moray get?

The Caribbean chestnut moray grows to a maximum of about 34 cm.

Is the Caribbean chestnut moray dangerous to humans?

No, the Caribbean chestnut moray is harmless to humans.

Is the Caribbean chestnut moray edible?

The Caribbean chestnut moray is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kastanjemurene sourced
English name
Caribbean chestnut moray verified
Scientific name
Enchelycore carychroa
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Chestnut moray; Chestnut Moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
34.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown 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)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Enchelycore

More from the family Muraenidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →