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Headspot moray (Gymnothorax cephalospilus) — Muraenidae

Headspot moray

Gymnothorax cephalospilus
Family: Muraenidae

The Headspot moray (Gymnothorax cephalospilus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
125.0–134.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The %s is a moray eel (Muraenidae) from rocky and coral-reef water around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a slender, snake-like, scaleless body without pectoral fins and sharp teeth. As a nocturnal ambush predator it shelters in crevices with only the head showing by day and seizes small fish, crustaceans and squid at night. When threatened or handled carelessly it can bite fiercely.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Headspot moray?

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

Where does the Headspot moray live?

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

How big does the Headspot moray get?

The Headspot moray grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Headspot moray dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Headspot moray edible?

Yes, the Headspot moray is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kopvlek-murene sourced
English name
Headspot moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax cephalospilus
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Head-spot moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.2 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
125.0 verified
Max depth (m)
134.0 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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