Home · Muraenidae · Kidako moray
Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako) — Muraenidae

Kidako moray

Gymnothorax kidako
Family: Muraenidae

The Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 92 cm.

Length
91.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–350.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite
Range
Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South) and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Kidako moray?

Get the app

Description

The kidako moray is a moray (Muraenidae) from temperate reef waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 92 cm and has an elongate, snake-shaped, scaleless body with a brown, marbled and reticulate pattern. As a nocturnal reef predator it hides by day in crevices of rocky reefs and seizes fish, crustaceans and octopus at night. It bites fiercely when disturbed; handle with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Kidako moray?

The Kidako moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Can bite with sharp teeth or powerful jaws; handle with care.

Where does the Kidako moray live?

The Kidako moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South) and others

How big does the Kidako moray get?

The Kidako moray grows to a maximum of about 92 cm.

Is the Kidako moray dangerous to humans?

The Kidako moray can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans. Do not feed or reach into crevices. For a bite: rinse the wound thoroughly with clean water, apply firm pressure to stop bleeding and cover with a sterile dressing. Moray bites are deep and prone to infection: always have them assessed medically and check tetanus status.

Is the Kidako moray edible?

Yes, the Kidako moray is commonly eaten.

More photos

Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako) — Muraenidae — 2
Marion Goascoz (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako) — Muraenidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako) — Muraenidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) damonbay, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako) — Muraenidae — 5
nathan_fripp (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Kidako moray?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Kidako moray is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Kidako moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax kidako
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Kidako moray; Kikado moray; Kidako's moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
91.5 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
350.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South) and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Can bite with sharp teeth or powerful jaws; handle with care. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
May bite verified
First aid
Do not feed or reach into crevices. For a bite: rinse the wound thoroughly with clean water, apply firm pressure to stop bleeding and cover with a sterile dressing. Moray bites are deep and prone to infection: always have them assessed medically and check tetanus status. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gymnothorax

More from the family Muraenidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Kidako moray?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Kidako moray is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Kidako moray? Get the app