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Cunning moray (Uropterygius versutus) — Muraenidae

Cunning moray

Uropterygius versutus
Family: Muraenidae

The Cunning moray (Uropterygius versutus) is a saltwater fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 56 cm.

Length
56 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–40.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
May bite

Description

The Cunning moray is a moray (Muraenidae) from reef and rocky water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a slender, eel-like, scaleless body without pectoral fins and a mouth with sharp teeth; the skin is often finely spotted or marbled. As a nocturnal predator it shelters by day with only its head out of a crevice and hunts small fish and crustaceans at night. It does not attack people, but can bite fiercely when threatened or handled.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cunning moray?

The Cunning moray has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Cunning moray live?

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

How big does the Cunning moray get?

The Cunning moray grows to a maximum of about 56 cm.

Is the Cunning moray dangerous to humans?

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

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sluwe murene sourced
English name
Cunning moray sourced
Scientific name
Uropterygius versutus
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Two-holes moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
56.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 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

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 Uropterygius

More from the family Muraenidae

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