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Honeycomb Moray (Gymnothorax saxicola) — Muraenidae

Honeycomb Moray

Gymnothorax saxicola
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Honeycomb Moray (Gymnothorax saxicola) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–19.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The honeycomb moray is a moray eel (family Muraenidae) of the western Atlantic. The species grows to about 60 cm and has a snake-like body with a yellow-brown honeycomb-like spot pattern. It is abundant in seagrass beds and on sandy banks, rarely occurs in bays and does not live on coral reefs. By day it shelters in holes and crevices; at night it hunts small fishes and crustaceans. The species is of modest commercial value and bites only when disturbed or handled carelessly. It is otherwise harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Honeycomb Moray?

The Honeycomb Moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Honeycomb Moray live?

The Honeycomb Moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Honeycomb Moray get?

The Honeycomb Moray grows to a maximum of about 60 cm.

Is the Honeycomb Moray dangerous to humans?

No, the Honeycomb Moray is harmless to humans.

Is the Honeycomb Moray edible?

The Honeycomb Moray is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Honingraat-murene sourced
English name
Honeycomb Moray verified
Scientific name
Gymnothorax saxicola
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Honeycomb moray; Ocellated moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots 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
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
19.0 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
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Gymnothorax

More from the family Muraenidae

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