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Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) — Muraenidae

Nutting's moray

Gymnothorax nuttingi
Family: Muraenidae

The Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 112 cm.

Length
112 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
164.0–338.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
May bite
Range
Oceania: Hawaii
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

Nutting's moray is a moray (Muraenidae) from the eastern Pacific, around remote islands such as the Galapagos. The species grows to about 1.1 metres and has an elongate, snake-shaped, yellow-brown, scaleless body with a fine, dark network pattern. As a nocturnal reef predator it hides by day in crevices of rocky reefs and seizes fish and crustaceans at night. It bites fiercely when disturbed; handle with care.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Nutting's moray?

The Nutting's 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 Nutting's moray live?

The Nutting's moray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Oceania: Hawaii

How big does the Nutting's moray get?

The Nutting's moray grows to a maximum of about 112 cm.

Is the Nutting's moray dangerous to humans?

The Nutting's 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 Nutting's moray edible?

Yes, the Nutting's moray is commonly eaten.

More photos

Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) — Muraenidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) cory-pittman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) — Muraenidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — John Otterbein Snyder (Public domain)
Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi) — Muraenidae — 4
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Nutting's moray sourced
Scientific name
Gymnothorax nuttingi
Family
Muraenidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
164.0 verified
Max depth (m)
338.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Hawaii 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
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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

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