| Family: |
Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Uropterygiinae |
| Max. size: |
53 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea. Solomons, Palau, Tokelau and Kapingamarangi in Micronesia (Ref. 37816). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0; Vertebrae: 127. TL to 53 cm.
Description: Characterized by brown color with irregular, narrow blackish bands; white spots widely scattered; lower jaw with white bars; white bar through eye; frequently with pair of short black stripes radiating from posterior eye; body depth at gill opening 18 in TL; anus anterior to middle of body, preanal length 2.4 in TL; gill opening at middle of side; three rows of jaw teeth, increasing in size inwardly; several large canines on intermaxillary, separated from uniserial vomerine teeth by gap (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Adults inhabit shallow lagoon reefs in areas of sand, coralline algae and coral heads (Ref. 37816). Possibly are protogynous hermaphrodites (Ref. 32169). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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