Marine Fishes of South-East Asia. Gerry Allen
Читать онлайн книгу.
coral reef crevices; generally yellow-brown in colour with fine dark spotting on head and body and black patch at gill opening; juveniles are dark brown with fine yellow-green margin on dorsal and anal fins; also known as Leopard eel; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 50 cm.
9 FIMBRIATED MORAY
Gymnothorax fimbriatus (Bennett, 1832)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by tan or light brown colour with loose network of branched dark bands; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 80 cm.
10 GIANT MORAY
Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker, 1859)
Inhabits offshore coral reef; distinguished by yellow-brown head with small dark spots and large dark patch at gill opening; adults have leopard-like spotting on body; a large eel that can be dangerous if provoked; several attacks have been reported; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 250 cm.
11 PEARLY MORAY
Gymnothorax margaritophorus Bleeker, 1865
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by series of dark blotches just behind eye, pale chin and breast, and “lattice” pattern on rear part of body; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 40 cm.
12 MOTTLED MORAY
Gymnothorax undulatus (Lacepède, 1803)
Inhabits coral reef crevices, distinguished by “chain-link” pattern of narrow pale bands; juvenile with diffuse vertical bars most noticeable towards tail; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 150 cm.
13 BARTAIL MORAY
Gymnothorax zonipectus Seale, 1906
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by white spots on upper and lower jaw; dark spots on body and distinct dark bars on rear portion of dorsal and anal fins; N.W. Australia, E. Queensland, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 32 cm.
14 PAINTED MORAY
Siderea picta (Ahl, 1789)
Inhabits shallow reef flats and tide pools; sometimes seen entirely out of water at low tide; distinguished by white colouration with numerous small dark spots; also known as Peppered moray; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 68 cm.
15 FRECKLED MORAY
Siderea thrysoidea (Richardson, 1845)
Inhabits shallow coral reefs; distinguished by light brown or tan coloured body (with faint mottlings), white to bluish snout, and silvery eyes; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 35 cm.
MORAY EELS
The eels featured on this plate are all members of the family Muraenidae, commonly known as morays. Most are equipped with needle-sharp teeth which has given them a largely undeserved reputation of being dangerous. While it is true that some larger eels, for example no. 10, have attacked humans, in most cases the eel had been provoked in some manner. Large eels should definitely not be teased with offerings of dead or struggling fish either hand held or on the end of a spear. Exceptions are morays that hang out at popular tourist dive sites and are relatively tame. In this case trust your local guide for advice, but always be cautious! Species in the genus Echidna have blunt teeth in contrast to most other eels. This is an adaptation for feeding on shelled molluscs and crustaceans. They exhibit striking colour patterns and are sometimes kept as aquarium pets. The Painted Moray (14) sometimes frightens beachcombers. It occurs in very shallow pools at low tide or is occasionally found high and dry under rocks.
PLATE 8: MORAY EELS (FAMILY MURAENIDAE)
1 BLACK-SPOTTED MORAY
Gymnothorax melanospilus (Bleeker, 1855)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by bold black spots on white background, with many of the spots u-shaped; throughout S.E. Asia; E. Indian Ocean and W. Pacific; to 180 cm.
2 LONGFANG MORAY
Enchelynassa canina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by bilobed flap on front nostril, hooked jaws, wrinkled appearance of head, extremely long canine teeth at front of mouth, and several white spots on lower jaw; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 150 cm.
3 WHITE-MARGINED MORAY
Enchelycore schismatorhynchus (Bleeker, 1853)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by hooked jaws, large fangs, and white margin on dorsal fin; throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 120 cm.
4 HOOKJAW MORAY
Enchelycore bayeri (Schultz, 1953)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by plain brown colour, large fangs, and hooked jaws; a relatively small harmless species; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W.A., and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 70 cm.
5 DRAGON MORAY
Enchelycore pardalis (Temminck, 1847)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by highly ornate pattern of bars and spots, and long tube-like rear nostrils above front part of eyes; throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 80 cm.
6 GUINEAFOWL MORAY
Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw & Nodder, 1795)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by network of small white spots on dark ground colour, also inside of mouth is white; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 100 cm.
7 MOLUCCAN MORAY
Gymnothorax moluccensis (Bleeker, 1865)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; plain brown colour without distinguishing marks; throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to at least 50 cm.
8 YELLOWMOUTH MORAY
Gymnothorax nudivomer (Playfair & Gunther, 1867)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by yellow colour on inside of mouth, network of fine whites spots on head and much larger white spots over much of body; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 180 cm.
9 TIGER MORAY
Gymnothorax enigmaticus McCosker & Randall, 1982
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by black bars over entire length of body; similar to 15 below, but bars on head completely encircle body and no yellow present on head; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. A. and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 58 cm.
10 HIGHFIN MORAY
Gymnothorax pseudothtysoideus (Bleeker, 1852)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by spotted pattern and relatively well developed dorsal fin; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to 80 cm.
11 RICHARDSON’S MORAY
Gymnothorax richardsoni (Bleeker, 1852)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; a small speckled eel that is frequently found under rocks on shallow reef flats, often in weedy areas; throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to at least 30 cm.
12 SLENDERTAIL MORAY
Gymnothorax gracilicaudus Jenkins, 1903
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by vertically elongate, branching dark blotches, forming definite bars on anterior half of body, but in several interconnected rows on posterior half; offshore reefs of W.A., Great Barrier Reef, and throughout Oceania; to 32 cm.
13 DWARF MORAY
Gymnothorax melatremus Schultz, 1953
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by small size, black rim around eye and prominent