Fin's Fish Guide
The White-banded moray eel (Echidna leucotaenia) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 75 cm.
Description
The white-banded moray is a moray eel from the Indo-Pacific, including around Hawaii. The species grows to about 75 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless, dark-brown body with narrow, pale cross-bars and yellow tints. Unlike the sharp-toothed fish-eating morays it has blunt, pebble-like teeth with which it mainly crushes crustaceans and molluscs. As a nocturnal reef-dweller it shelters by day in crevices and can bite if disturbed. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the White-banded moray eel?
The White-banded moray eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Blunt pebble-shaped teeth and pale vertical bars; nocturnal reef moray that bites when disturbed
Where does the White-banded moray eel live?
The White-banded moray eel lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific
How big does the White-banded moray eel get?
The White-banded moray eel grows to a maximum of about 75 cm.
Is the White-banded moray eel dangerous to humans?
The White-banded moray eel can bite, but is otherwise not dangerous to humans. Morays do not bite unprovoked, but when disturbed or caught they can bite with backward-pointing teeth. Clean any bite wound thoroughly, stop the bleeding and seek medical help; moray bites infect easily.
Is the White-banded moray eel edible?
The White-banded moray eel is rarely eaten.
More photos
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Echidna
More from the family Muraenidae
Want the complete picture on the White-banded moray eel?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the White-banded moray eel is one of 12,519 species in the app.