No photo available
Zebra moray
Gymnomuraena zebra
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Zebra moray
- Scientific
- Gymnomuraena zebra
- Dhivehi
- No recorded Dhivehi name
- Group
- Eels
- Family
- Muraenidae (moray eels)
- Maximum size
- Up to about 1.5 m (total length); commonly 50 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 3 to 50 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2011
Description
An unmistakable moray, dark brown to black with dozens of narrow white or yellowish rings around the body and a short, rounded snout. Instead of fangs it has flat, pebble-like teeth for crushing crabs, molluscs and sea urchins. It is shy and spends most of its time in crevices and under ledges, but sometimes forages in the open. Large individuals can reach about 1.5 m, although most are well under 1 m.
In the Maldives
Found on Maldivian reef slopes and in lagoons, usually tucked under coral ledges.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Gymnomuraena-zebra.html
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Gymnomuraena_zebra_by_NPS.jpg
Dhivehi name source: No Dhivehi name found in MRS 1997 (available chapters), FishBase (country: Maldives) or Dhivehi Wikipedia.