Leopard moray eel

Leopard moray eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Enchelycore
Species: E. pardalis
Binomial name
Enchelycore pardalis
(Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
dragon moray eel in Japan

Enchelycore pardalis, commonly called Leopard moray eel or Dragon moray, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.[1]

The Leopard moray eel is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans from Réunion to the Hawaiian, Line and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and south to New Caledonia.[2]

It inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depth range from 8 to 60 m.[3]

Its length is up to 92 cm.[4]

This eel is characterized by its narrow, curved jaws, vivid red stripes on the head, and elongated tubular nostrils.

Close-up of leopard moray.

It is chiefly nocturnal; because of this and its preference for cryptic habitats, it is seldom seen. It feeds primarily on fishes and small cephalopods.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fishbase.org/summary/7451
  2. ↑ http://www.fishbase.org/summary/7451
  3. ↑ Allen, G.R. and R.C. Steene, 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island Natural History Association, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, 6798, Australia. 197 p.
  4. ↑ Randall, J.E., 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 720 p.
  5. ↑ Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
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