Short-tooth Moray, Gymnothorax kontodontos Böhlke 2000

Summary:
A small unpatterned brownish to greenish-brown moray eel found on reefs in the Coral Sea.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Gymnothorax kontodontos in Fishes of Australia, accessed 13 Oct 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5465

Short-tooth Moray, Gymnothorax kontodontos Böhlke 2000

More Info

Distribution

 Reefs in the Coral Sea off Cape York, Queensland (Bougainville Reef and Osprey Reef). Elsewhere the species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Comores and Chagos Archipelago, eastwards to the Line Islands and Johnston Atoll.

Features

 Anus well before midbody, preanal length 2.5-2.8 in TL; head blunt and rounded, 8.3-9.7 in TL, gape short; depth at gill opening 16-20 in TL; 2 branchial pores; teeth short and smooth, maxillae short, maxillary teeth triserial, vomerine teeth biserial, dentary teeth uniserial to biserial; MVF 8-42-131. Dorsal-fin origin above or behind gill opening; tail very long (67% TL).

Size

 The species is distinguished by a combination of characters: dorsal-fin origin above or behind gill opening, very long tail (67% TL), short maxillae with triserial dentition, and MVF of 8-42-131.

Colour

 Uniform brownish to greenish moray with paler fins; small brown pigment spots are visible microscopically on the head and body, the spots fewer or lacking on the fins. Dark pigment around anterior eye of larger specimens; head pores with pale rims.

Etymology

 The specific name kontodontos is from the Greek kontos (short) and odontos (tooth), in reference to the very short, small teeth.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2018

Short-tooth Moray, Gymnothorax kontodontos Böhlke 2000

References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Böhlke, E.B. 2000. Notes on the identity of small, brown, unpatterned Indo-Pacific moray eels, with descriptions of three new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Pacific Science 54(4): 395-416 http://hdl.handle.net/10125/1665 Open access

Quick Facts

CAAB Code:37060072
Depth:1-27 m
Habitat:Reef associated
Max Size:18 cm TL

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map