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Ringed moray (Gymnothorax annulatus) — Muraenidae

Ringed moray

Gymnothorax annulatus
Family: Muraenidae

The Ringed moray (Gymnothorax annulatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–81.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Ringed moray is a moray eel (Muraenidae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 60 cm and has an elongate, muscular, scaleless, eel-like body without pectoral fins, a long dorsal fin margin and a strong mouth. As a nocturnal ambush predator it shelters by day with only its head out of a crevice and hunts fish and crustaceans by night. When disturbed or handled it can give a deep, tearing bite; keep hands out of crevices.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Ringed moray?

The Ringed moray has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Ringed moray live?

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

How big does the Ringed moray get?

The Ringed moray grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Ringed moray dangerous to humans?

The Ringed moray can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans.

Is the Ringed moray edible?

Yes, the Ringed moray is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geringde murene sourced
English name
Ringed moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax annulatus
Family
Muraenidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.1 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
81.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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
May bite verified

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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