Echidna leucotaenia Schultz, 1943
Whiteface moray
photo by SFSA

Family:  Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae
Max. size:  75 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 24 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to Johnston Island.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0; Vertebrae: 121-130. Plain brown in color, snout with white tip, jaw with irregular white patches; darker behind eye and corner of mouth (Ref. 3257). Stout conical teeth that tend to become pebble-like, more numerous, and closely-packed with age. Description: Characterized by having vomer with ovate patch of teeth (5-6 teeth across broadest point) in large adult, two rows of small molariform teeth in smaller eels (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs among rubble deposits on the lee side of shallow wave-washed reefs. Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 9710, 58302; 89972). Benthic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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