Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Gymnothorax: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, thorax, -akos = breast (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Sir John Richardson (1787–1865) was a Scottish naval surgeon, naturalist and Arctic explorer. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Bleeker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 15 m (Ref. 86942). Tropical; 30°N - 23°S
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 33390) to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyus, south to the Cook Islands; Mariana and Caroline islands in Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 34.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 90102)
Inhabits shallow lagoons and seaward reefs. Often under large, loose dead coral pieces (Ref. 30404). Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 89972). Solitary (Ref 90102).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Chen, H.-M., K.-T. Shao and C.T. Chen, 1994. A review of the muraenid eels (Family Muraenidae) from Taiwan with descriptions of twelve new records. Zool. Stud. 33(1):44-64. (Ref. 6934)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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Internet sources
![Image of Gymnothorax richardsonii (Richardson\](/images/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Gyric_u2.jpg "Image of Gymnothorax richardsonii (Richardson\")
