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Reticulated moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) — Muraenidae

Reticulated moray

Gymnomuraena zebra
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Reticulated moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 150 cm.

Length
150 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The zebra moray is a moray (Muraenidae) from the Indo-West Pacific and eastern Pacific. The species has an elongate, dark-brown body with numerous narrow, white crossbars like a zebra's. It lives concealed on sandy and rocky bottoms, in crevices and under ledges of seaward reefs. Unlike many morays it has blunt, flat grinding teeth with which it cracks hard-shelled prey such as crabs and sea urchins. It is not venomous, but can bite with its powerful jaws.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Reticulated moray?

The Reticulated moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Reticulated moray live?

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

How big does the Reticulated moray get?

The Reticulated moray grows to a maximum of about 150 cm. On average the species is around 50 cm.

Is the Reticulated moray dangerous to humans?

No, the Reticulated moray is harmless to humans.

Is the Reticulated moray edible?

The Reticulated moray is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zebra-murene sourced
English name
Reticulated moray verified
Scientific name
Gymnomuraena zebra
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Zebra eel; Zebra moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
150.0 verified
Average length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy 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)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 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
Rarely 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

More from the family Muraenidae

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