Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell 1830)


Other Names: Leopard Eel, Yellow Margin Moray, Yellow-edged Moray

A Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus, in Torquoise Bay, Western Australia, July 2014. Source: Guy Skillen / Atlas of Living Australia. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:

A large yellowish moray with a densely mottled dark brown pattern, a purplish-grey head, yellowish green posterior fin margins and a black blotch at the gill openings. Juveniles may have brown blotches on a bright yellow background. usually seen with its head poking out from a crevice on the reef.

Yellowmargin Morays being cleaned by pairs of cleaner shrimps off the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Video of a Yellowmargin Moray


Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2039

Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell 1830)

More Info


Distribution

Occurs around the northern half of Australia, and at Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) islands in the Indian Ocean. Elsewhere, widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific and in the SE Atlantic off South Africa.

Feeding

Carnivore - feeds on fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans.

Species Citation

Muraena flavimarginata Rüppell, 1830, Fische des Rothen Meeres 3: 119. Type locality: Red Sea.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell 1830)

References


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

Allen, G.R. and W.F. Smith-Vaniz, 1994. Fishes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Res. Bull. 412:21 p.

Allen, G.R. & Steene, R.C. 1979. The Fishes of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Aust. Natl. Parks Wldlf. Ser. Spec. Publ. 2. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 81 pp. 15 pls.

Böhlke, E.B. & McCosker, J.E. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum 53: 71-102 figs 1-10

Charter, S.R. and H.G. Moser, 1996. Muraenidae: morays. p. 88-91. In H.G. Moser (ed.) The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas No. 33. 1505 p.

Chen, H.-M., K.-T. Shao and C.T. Chen, 1994. A review of the muraenid eels (Family Muraenidae) from Taiwan with descriptions of twelve new records. Zool. Stud. 33(1):44-64.

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. & T. Tonozuka. 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Rüppell, W.P.E. 1830. Atlas zu der Reise im nördlichen Afrika. Fische des Rothen Meeres. 3. Frankfurt : H.L. Brünner 95-141 pls 25-35.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37060036

Danger:Reports of ciguatera poisoning

Depth:1-150 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:240 cm TL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map