Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Uropterygiinae
Etymology: Cirrimaxilla: Latin, cirrus = fringe, curl + Latin, maxilla = jaw.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 5 m (Ref. 86942). Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: known only from Nan-wan, Ping-tung County, Taiwan (Ref. 10992). Reported in New Caledonia, found in the stomach of the sea snake Laticauda (Ref. 77055).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.6 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 132. Body very stout, muscular, elliptical anteriorly, somewhat compressed posteriorly. Dorsal and anal fins restricted to tail end, confluent with caudal fin. Mouth large, lower protruding and slightly curved upward, snout pointed. Jaws with beard-like cirri.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Holotype collected from a tidal pool.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Chen, H.-M. and K.-T. Shao, 1995. New eel genus, Cirrimaxilla, and description of the type species, Cirrimaxilla formosa (Pisces: Muraenidae) from southern Taiwan. Bull. Mar. Sci. 57(2):328-332. (Ref. 10992)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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