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Gymnothorax monostigma (Regan, 1909) One-spot moray |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae | |||
| Max. size: | 65 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-Pacific Ocean: Maldives (Ref. 11303) and Christmas Island (Ref. 30874) to Caroline and Mariana islands, Papua New Guinea and Philippines to the Marquesas and Tuamoto islands. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0; Vertebrae: 129-133. Plain brown moray that has a distinctive dark ring around each eye that extends backwards as a rectangular blotch and white spots surrounding each mucus pore around the mouth. Description: Characterized by body depth at gill opening 16-20 in TL; origin of dorsal fin above or slightly anterior to gill opening; anus anterior to middle of body; compressed teeth in single row in jaws; without canines; front of upper jaw with three long teeth in inner row; two long teeth in inner row on each side at front of lower jaw; along posterior edge of teeth is serrate (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits surge-swept seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Mostly found in oceanic islands (Ref 90102). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||